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Request to be the primary admin or contact

by Intuit364 Updated 3 months ago

Learn how to request to be the primary admin or contact for a QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online account.

There are instances when the primary admin or contact changes due to several reasons. For your account security, it’s important to update your contact information especially when there’s a transition in your business.

Things you can do as a primary admin or contact

When you change the primary admin role to an accounting firm/firm user, it can affect:

  • Billing
  • User management
  • Support plan
  • Bank account changes

Note: For a bank account attached to a payroll account for money movement, the Primary Admin must have the business owner’s info. If a money movement support issue arises, the firm user must transfer the role to a Primary Admin (non-firm user).

If the primary admin or contact can’t transfer the role to you, they can send a request to our account protection team. Here’s how:

Step 1: Gather documents for your request

To protect your account and data, we need documentation that you’re the rightful owner. This includes access privileges for it.

The business type and ownership determine which documents we need to verify. They also determine the need to assign a new primary admin or contact. This is what you need to provide.

Determine the type of business

Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business license
I don’t own the business
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's business license
  • A letter of permission from the owner
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the owner
    Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
I don’t own the business
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the owner

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Articles of organization
  • Corporation bylaws
  • Shareholders agreement
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the sole or majority owner
    Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this business
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • One of the owners' (either sole, majority or 50/50 owner's) photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • Permission letter from the majority owner or if there’s no majority owner, a permission letter from all the other owners

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Articles of organization
  • Operating agreement
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the sole or majority owner
    Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport).
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this business
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • One of the owners' (either sole, majority or 50/50 owner's) photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • Permission letter from the majority owner or if there’s no majority owner, a permission letter from all the other owners

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Articles of organization
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Shareholders agreement
  • Corporation bylaws
Who owns the business?Documents required
I'm the sole or majority ownerYour photo ID (driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport)
I'm a 50/50 owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • Your business partner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from your business partner
I'm a minority owner
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The majority owner's photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the majority owner
I own no part of this business
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • The owner's (or majority owner's) photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A letter of permission from the owner (or majority owner)

You need to provide the documents required along with one of these. And they should have the owner’s name and title on them.

  • Articles of incorporation
  • Non-profit corporate bylaws
  • Recommended: A board of trustee meeting minutes that shows the chairperson or president by name and who the new Primary Administrator should be.
Are you the president or director of the non-profit?Documents required
YesYour photo ID (driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport)
No
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A photo ID of the non-profit’s president or director (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A signed permission letter from the non-profit’s president or director
Are you the person in charge of what goes into this QuickBooks account?Documents required
YesYour photo ID (driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport)
No
  • Your photo ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A photo of the QuickBooks account admin (driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport)
  • A permission letter signed by the QuickBooks account admin (driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport)

Note: If a deceased primary admin or contact was the owner, you’ll need to provide the same documents required. You’ll also need to provide:

  • A notarized documentation that reflects the name of the executor of the estate for the deceased owner.
  • A photo ID and permission letter from the executor of the estate.
    Important: The letter should authorize the requester to become the primary on the account.

Step 2: Complete the form

You'll need to sign in with your email to view the form. If you don't see a form in Step 3, sign in to your Intuit Account to access QuickBooks. If you don't have an Intuit Account, create one.

Once you've signed in, or have created an account, return to this page and refresh it in your web browser.

Important: Help us get your request approved quickly and safely. Make sure:
  • You're signed in so you can see the form.
  • Your photo ID is a valid driver's license, passport, or other government-issued ID. Also make sure it’s unedited and unmarked.
  • You have all the required business documents you gathered in Step 1.
  • The business documents show the owner, chairperson, or leader of the business operation.
  • All documents are clear, legible, and shouldn't show your Social Security Number, to protect your privacy.
  • To provide a business license or Quickbooks Desktop License (if applicable) when asked for a license
  • To add documents indicating ownership or authorship of the QuickBooks account if you're prompted for documents that aren't applicable

Log in to complete the form

Important: Make sure to update your browser to the latest version so you can log in here:

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Step 3: Know the next steps

We'll review your case as soon as possible. Once the review is complete, you’ll receive an update via email with the status of your request. Wait for an email from no_response@intuit.com.

If we approve your request

We’ll let you know that we transferred the primary admin or contact role to you. Just sign in with the email address you provided the next time you use QuickBooks.

If we’re unable to approve your request

We’ll let you know why and what steps you can take. For example, we’ll let you know if a specific document is missing, illegible, or doesn't meet the criteria for approval. You’ll need to fill out the form again and upload all of the required documents for your security.

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