Can I import payroll details from Quickbooks Desktop into Quickbooks Online?

You have two options to enter your payroll data into QBO, tmorrison816.

Importing the payroll details from the desktop version into QBO is currently not available. You can either enter prior payroll or run it normally in the online version. Once you choose how you'd like to enter the payroll, don't forget to record the prior tax payments as well.

To create paychecks in QuickBooks Online, you can refer to this article: Create paychecks in QuickBooks Online Payroll.

I'll be here if you need a hand. Thanks for dropping by.

What do you mean run it normally?  When will qb online be able to just import all historical payroll so I can switch people over?  This is too much work 

Hello there, Jeannepclark.

I appreciate you for getting back to us here in the Community. Allow me to chime in and provide additional clarification about the information from my colleague.

When importing payroll information from QuickBooks Desktop to the Online version, it'll only carry over company and employee information. For now, the only option is to enter prior payroll information manually.

Once you've entered all the payroll data, you can create the next payroll of your employees. For detailed steps on recording prior payroll, I'm adding the article I recommend on this:

Set up a prior payroll.

Please know you I'm always here in the Community for all of your payroll needs.

I need one button import feature. If not availableI will have to look at other options other than QBO. NONE OF US HAVE THE FREE TIME TO MANUALLY RE-ENTER ALL PAYROLL FOR THE YEAR FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

Hi there, @stevelipa.

Please allow me to help share additional information about importing payroll details form QuickBooks Deskop (QBDT) to QuickBooks Online (QBO).

Yes, as mentioned by my colleagues above, as of now, there isn't an option to import payroll details from QBDT to QBO. However, if you wish to, you may look for a third party-application online or on our App Center.

To look for a third-party application on our App Center, you may visit this link: https://apps.intuit.com/app/apps/home.

You can also check this article to learn more about the import limitations from from QBDT to QBO: What data doesn't convert from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online?.

Please know that I'll be always here to help you if you have any other QuickBooks or Payroll concerns, don't hesitate to add a post/comment below. Have a great day ahead!

THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT QB IS CHARGING SO MUCH MORE FOR THE ONLINE VERSION WITHOUT THE SIMPLE OPTION TO IMPORT PAYROLL HISTORY! I DIDN'T REALIZE QUICKBOOKS JUMPED THE GUN IN OFFERING ONLINE VERSION WITHOUT HAVING THE SOFTWARE FUNCTIONAL WITH THE SAME FEATURES AS THE DESKTOP VERSION...VERY DISAPPOINTING IN ALL SOFTWARE COMPANIES GETTING GREEDY WITH THE SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Hi there, USERID.

Allow me to share some insights about importing payroll details in QuickBooks. 

I understand how the feature you're looking for would be beneficial to your business so you'll able to import the payroll details from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online conveniently.

Finding new ways to adapt to our customers’ needs is how QuickBooks gets even better. I can pass along the suggestions you so you're able to reach a point of resolution as quickly as possible. For the meantime, you may want to consider the suggestion provided by my colleague to check a third-party application what will suit your needs. 

For additional reference, you can check this article to learn more on what data doesn't convert from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online?.

Please know that you're always welcome to post again if you have any other concerns with your QuickBooks. We're always here to help you out. Have a good one. 

As a new QB Online user I was unimpressed with this fact. Data transfer like this should a vary basic aspect of "upgrading" to the Online version of QB. Paying so much more for a product, it would be fair to expect that the level of service would be that much better. Not that it will do any good for us at this point, but I would strongly advise the QB team to make this a top issue to solve for future users. Until then I would be hesitant to recommend the switch. 

Hi there, @Sherri907. 

Welcome to this thread. I hear your sentiments about the data conversion limitations in QuickBooks. Because QB Desktop and QB Online have different platforms, our developers need to review and study all our suggested product enhancement proposals carefully to make sure they're fully functional when they're added. 

I'm adding a help article for your reference: Comparing Quickbooks Online to the QuickBooks Desktop versions. It helps you learn about the advantages of using QB Online over Desktop versions. 

Feel free to message again if you have additional questions. We're always here to help. 

We are a law firm that just transferred over to online today.  After hours of moving 7 companies over, we were told that the historical payroll information would not transfer.  This means that moving from the online version has now made it more difficult to manage my employee's information, our 401k (based on last year's payroll information -- which did not transfer) and the historical data covering more than a decade of payroll for multiple employees.  This product and the sale of the product does not comport with business standards and record retention policies.  It should not be difficult for a database company to lineup the fields of data from their own desktop version to the online version.   This should be disclosed prior to sale of the product and should be fixed immediately.

Hey there, @JRTII.

I understand how being able to lineup the fields and import payroll data entirely is beneficial to your business. Since the desktop version has more payroll features, there's payroll information that doesn't transfer.

We have the What to expect when you switch from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online article that contains the data you can convert to Online (scroll down to Payroll).

We place a value on your ideas and take them into consideration when making improvements. I’ll send feedback on your behalf about migrating data from the other version.

To view the recent happenings and future developments about the product, visit the Firm of the Future site.

Leave me a comment below if you have any other questions or concerns. I'm here ready to help and make sure you're taken care of. Have a good one.

Consider to utilize one of these tools (e.g exporter for QBD and importer for QBO) to migrate payroll data as JE. 

https://transactionpro.grsm.io/qbd

https://partners.saasant.com/affiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=5051_2

Hope it helps.

I sorry, the online

payroll has less features!!! How is

it that the new product has less features for payroll.  Think you have some problems with your advertising and marketing.  With

the speed of connections and the

massive iCloud systems, there is no reason to dumb down the online version.   This is not aimed and the monitor but please fix this.  

Hi there,  @JRTII.

I also want a software emphasizes on convenience, and has the features I need for my needs. Rest assured, I’m going to submit feedback to our developers about migrating data from the other version.

Also, you can check these articles that might help you in the future:

• Create paychecks in online payroll
• Print paychecks in QuickBooks Online
• Manually enter payroll paychecks in QuickBooks Online

If you have other questions or need further help, please feel free to tap me anytime. All the best.
 

WOW - over 2 years later, and they have done nothing to improve the coversion process.  Payroll information still does not convert from QBD to QBO.  I really fail to understand this when both systems are products of the same company.  

It's been nearly 3 years since this was posted. I just migrate my QBD file to QBO and WOW - I'm glad that I chose to try the demo before pulling the trigger. I won't be migrating away from QBD because the online program is a pile of garbage, apparently. No migration of historical payroll data? Are you guys insane? This is so stupid. Please fix it before asking us to pay your fairly ridiculous monthly fees for your SaaS product. 

Oh it gets better. When they killed off Quicken payroll it converted over to a new QBO company file instead of my existing one. So now I have to have two QBO companies, one for payroll and one for everything else. And I have to pay monthly for both. And even though I can export my payroll transactions from one to the other every pay period, they tell me I can't merge the accounts. And the best part - I used to pay $20 a month for QBO and $20 for Quicken Payroll. Now I have to pay $50 a month for each QBO. 

It's now 2023. STILL no payroll import.

Intuit is a terrible company, only interested in greed. Higher prices, less quality and service. Just pathetic. 

Hello there, @lahatte.

I can see the need for having this feature in QuickBooks Online (QBO). However, the option to import payroll details from QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) into QBO is still unavailable. I can see it's a good feature or idea, so we'd love to hear your input. I recommend leaving feedback to notify our engineers about the feature you need. This way, they can consider adding it in future updates.

To send your input, here's how:
 

1. Open your QuickBooks Online account.
2. Go to the Gear icon and select Feedback.
3. Type in your suggestion and click Next.

Moreover, I'll also share this article that can serve as your reference to learn about import limitations from QBDT to QBO: Learn how features and data move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online.

Feel free to leave a reply if you have additional QuickBooks-related queries. The Community team always has your back. Keep safe.

Um, it's more than a need, it is a necessity. This is crazy.