Payroll activation error

Congrats on upgrading your QuickBooks Desktop Pro to 2021, SamMitch.

I'm here to ensure you'll be able to activate and run your payroll seamlessly. Can you share with me the error message you received on your end? This way, I'll be able to provide you the right fix for it. Any additional information can help us narrow things down.

Nonetheless, I got you these troubleshooting steps to get around the issue. Here's how.

1. Open the display hidden files or folders. 
2. From the Search field, type Paysub.ini.
3. Once you see the Paysub.ini file, right-click on it, then select Delete.
4. Repeat the same steps until all Paysub.ini files are deleted. 

Then, download the latest payroll tax table. This is to ensure you have the newest tax updates and rates. 

I've also added these links that you can use for references in managing your payroll:

• Activate QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
• Resolve a problem verifying your payroll subscription 
• Get started with Payroll

You're always welcome to get back to me in case you need help managing your payroll. I'm always around to back you up. Keep safe!

I’ve done what you said,

I have 3 paysub.ini files on my computer.

I have right clicked on all of them and clicked Delete.

window pops up

Could Not Find Item

This is no longer located in

C:\programfiles\Intuit\Quickbooks2018\components\DownloadQB28

verify the item’s location and try again.

I click Try Again multiple times for all three files. The same result. 
I’m still not able to change my payroll activation status.

Thanks for getting back in here, @SamMitch. I'll be glad to provide some insights about activating payroll in QuickBooks.

Since you've already tried all the necessary steps in activating payroll, I suggest contacting our payroll support team. This way, they can access your account in a secure environment and provide you with a validation key to refresh your payroll subscription and guide you with the process.

Here's how:

1. Open your QuickBooks.
2. Select the Help menu, then choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Click Contact Us.
4. Enter your concern, then select Continue.
5. Choose Start messaging with a support expert or Get a callback.

Please know that our support service is open Monday to Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM. 

Let me add this article on how to resolve a problem verifying your payroll subscription for future reference. 

You can drop by again if you need further help in activating payroll in QuickBooks. I'm here to help in any way I can. Take care and have a nice weekend.

I am having the same payroll subscription activation issue that I see many people have posted over the last several years. I have an active subscription but QB payroll will not acknowledge it. This is so frustrating!! I've done all these tips above and nothing is working! Unfortunately it is Sunday and I can't speak to anyone until tomorrow!

I want to ensure this will be taken care of, @Cori W.

To isolate the issue, let's first run a payroll update to determine, what's causing it to say inactive. Here's how:

1. In your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) program, go to the Employees menu. 
2. Then, select Get Payroll Updates. 
3. Next, click on the Download Entire Update check-box. 
4. Select Download Latest Update. You'll see a pop-up window once the download is finished. 

As a reference guide for the process above, please see this article: Latest payroll news and updates. This will provide all the information about recent and previous payroll updates.

If the same thing happens, you can perform the steps in this link: Resolve a problem verifying your payroll subscription. However, if you're using Direct Deposit for the company file having this issue, I'd highly recommend reaching out to our Payroll support team. They have the necessary tools to pull up your account and further investigate the root cause of the issue. Our live support operating hours are from Monday to Friday 6 AM to 6 PM PT. 

Also, running payroll reports in QBDT is easy. This will help you get a summary of your employee details, company information, and business finances.

Stay in touch if there's anything else you need about managing your payroll subscription in QBDT. Don't hesitate to add a reply below. Have a good one.