Discontinuation of QuickBooks Desktop 2021

Information in this article was updated on May 17, 2024.

Intuit has sent notices to users of QuickBooks Desktop 2021 and older stating that the software will be unsupported as of May 31, 2024. Users can still upgrade to a newer supported version of QuickBooks but must do so before July 31, 2024. Intuit recently announced a stop sell of some Desktop products to new customers as of this date. Therefore, those currently using QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier 2021 and older should start planning now for the upcoming changes.

What you need to know

• Users will need to upgrade to a supported ‘Plus’ version before July 31, 2024. The ‘Plus’ version is subscription based and charges an annual subscription. The subscription price includes an upgrade to the newest version of QuickBooks Pro or Premier Plus on an annual basis.

• • Active desktop subscriptions support the three most recent years of QuickBooks Desktop software.
  • Those already using QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier 2022 and newer are already paying this annual fee. When the 2025 version becomes available, users of QuickBooks Desktop Pro/Premier 2022 will need to upgrade to 2023, 2024, or 2025. This upgrade is included in the annual fee they are already paying.

• After July 31, 2024, unsupported users will be unable to upgrade their current QuickBooks product.
• If users do not upgrade their product before July 31, 2024, only QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise or QuickBooks Online will be available for purchase.

After July 31, 2024, customers without an active QuickBooks subscription will no longer be able to purchase QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier, QuickBooks Desktop Mac, and QuickBooks Desktop Enhanced Payroll.

This change will not impact the following QuickBooks subscribers:

• Existing QuickBooks Desktop Plus and Desktop Payroll subscribers can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024.
• QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise products are also not impacted by this change, and customers can continue to purchase Enterprise subscriptions after July 31, 2024.
• QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus, and Desktop Enhanced Payroll will not be discontinued. This is a stop sell only for new purchases, not a discontinuation (sunset) of this product line. Existing subscribers of these products can continue to renew their subscriptions after July 31, 2024.

Intuit encourages those that are new to QuickBooks to consider QuickBooks Online. QuickBooks Online provides many great benefits over Desktop, such as remote access, enhanced flexibility, and real-time collaboration. Migration from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online is easier than ever.

Beware of QuickBooks deals

If you see a deal for QuickBooks on eBay or elsewhere for a “three-year license,” be aware that all QuickBooks Desktop software is now subscription-based, and these marketing tactics are misleading. Some QuickBooks resellers offer very good pricing due to the volume discounts they receive, but there are also many scams online. Please proceed cautiously and only purchase QuickBooks from Intuit directly, Yeo & Yeo, or a trusted QuickBooks reseller.

Next steps

It’s vital to remain on a supported version of QuickBooks Desktop to maintain access to live technical support and to access any of the other Intuit add-on services that can be integrated with QuickBooks Desktop. This includes QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop Payments, and online bank feeds. Unsupported versions also won’t receive the latest critical security patches and updates.

For more information, refer to Intuit’s Frequently Asked Questions about the stop sell.

For assistance with evaluating the options or to upgrade your version of QuickBooks Desktop or move to QuickBooks Online, contact your Yeo & Yeo professional.