Exactly one year later and is there a solution?  A fix??  I am getting the same error.  I wonder if moving my version to a newer QBD would help.  

Hello there, @iH8theonlineversion.

I understand that you've been having trouble activating Direct Deposit for payroll in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

To assist you effectively, can you please let me know which version of QuickBooks Desktop you are using? Since, as long as you're using a supported version of QBDT and have a payroll subscription, you should be able to activate and process Direct Deposit.

Outdated QuickBooks software could be causing the issue. One of the recommended steps is to download and install the most recent release to ensure that you have access to the latest features, fixes, and uninterrupted services.

Additionally, we can follow these steps to help resolve error code 50004, which should allow you to activate Direct Deposit and process payroll in QuickBooks.

Here's how:

1. Access the F2 (or Ctrl 1) screen, then click F3 (or Ctrl 2) to open the Tech Help window
2. Select the Open File tab
3. Double-click the qbw.ini file to open it.
4. Locate the part of the qbw.ini file that shows:  [QBLICENSE] PAYROLL_BUNDLE_STATE=Y
5. Adjust the Y to N
6. Select File > Save to save the qbw.ini with the changes
7. Return to QuickBooks and try accessing the WF Invites or PTC again.

If you encounter the Payroll Activation screen, revisit the steps mentioned earlier. This time, instead of changing the Y to N in Step 5, completely delete the section [QBLICENSE] PAYROLL_BUNDLE_STATE=Y]. 

Furthermore, if the issue continues, I recommend reaching out to our support team. They will be able to investigate further and help resolve the issue.

Additionally, you can refer to the guide on setting up direct deposit to learn more. This will help you understand how to process and pay employees electronically. You can also find guidance on setting preferences for Payroll in QuickBooks.

I’ll be around the corner if you need an extra pair of hands to handle your Direct Deposit or any QuickBooks-related matters. Stay safe!

I have done all of these things and more.  I do not have the options for payroll in qbw.ini to change.  What is next?  

Having the ability to choose your preferred payroll settings is important to streamline your business, onlineversion. Let me connect you to the support team that can help you resolve this.

Since you're still unable to find the option to change your payroll settings to direct deposit in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT), let's contact our customer care team so they can look into this matter thoroughly. Our support team has the necessary tools and expertise to conduct the required investigation into the root cause of this issue.

1. Open your QBDT.
2. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
3. Click Contact Us, then enter a brief description of your concern.
4. Hit Continue and sign in to your Intuit account.
5. An email containing a code is sent to you. Once you receive it, enter the code and select Continue.
6. Choose either to chat with us or Have us call you.

Please note that if you're using QBDT Payroll Basic, Enhanced, or Standard support, it is available from Monday to Friday, from 6 AM to 6 PM PT. If you're using QBDT Assisted Payroll, you can contact us any time of the day.

For reference, you can check this article: Contact Payroll Support.

If you need to generate and customize reports to examine your business finances, you can read this article for guidance: Run payroll reports.

I'm all ears if you need additional help changing your payroll settings in QBDT. I'll make sure to help you out anytime.

Umm...I think this step has been done before, yielding NO results.