Trying to cancel

QuickBooks

? Avoid the runaround.

QuickBooks Online (QBO) subscriptions can be cancelled at any time, but a few conditions matter depending on how you signed up.

• Product type matters (QuickBooks Online vs Desktop):
  This guide is for Intuit QuickBooks Online in Australia. If you’re using QuickBooks Desktop or another Intuit product, cancellation steps may be different.
• Only the Master Admin can cancel:
  You must be logged in as the primary account administrator (Master Admin) to cancel. If you’re an invited accountant, employee user, or secondary admin, you may not see the cancellation option.
• App Store subscriptions must be cancelled in Apple/Google settings:
  If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, your subscription is controlled by Apple/Google, not Intuit. That means you must cancel in your device subscription settings (not inside QuickBooks).
• Monthly plans: no special notice period:
  For monthly QBO subscriptions purchased through Intuit, you can cancel before the next renewal date and it won’t renew for the next billing cycle.
• Annual plans and the 60-day money-back guarantee (important):
  If you purchased an annual plan directly through Intuit, you may be eligible for a 60-day money-back guarantee for new purchases (not renewals). After that period, annual subscriptions are generally not refundable, but you can still cancel to prevent the next renewal.
• If your account is suspended for non-payment:
  If your subscription is overdue or suspended, you may need to resolve billing first to cancel cleanly (or the system may eventually close the subscription after multiple failed payment attempts).
• Multiple companies under one login:
  If you manage multiple QBO company files, cancelling one subscription doesn’t cancel the others. Make sure you’re cancelling the correct company.

The steps below are the standard path for cancelling QuickBooks Online purchased through Intuit.

Cancel inside QuickBooks Online (Web Browser)

1. Sign in to QuickBooks Online
   Log in via a web browser using the Master Admin credentials. If you have multiple companies, select the correct company file first.
2. Go to Account & Settings
   Click the Gear icon (⚙) in the top-right corner, then choose Account and settings (or Subscriptions and billing, depending on your version).
3. Open Billing & Subscription
   In Account & Settings, select the Billing & Subscription tab to view plan details and your next billing date.
4. Choose Cancel subscription
   Find your plan (Essentials, Plus, etc.) and click Cancel subscription (or similar wording).
5. Follow the prompts
   QuickBooks may show plan benefits, offer discounts, or ask why you’re leaving. Continue through the prompts.
6. Confirm cancellation
   Confirm your cancellation and save the confirmation email for your records.

Alternative method: Intuit Account Manager

If cancellation inside QBO is glitchy or you can’t find the cancel button, you can also cancel through your Intuit account billing portal (recommended fallback).

If you subscribed via Apple App Store or Google Play

You must cancel in your device subscription settings:

• Apple: iPhone/iPad subscription settings (Apple ID > Subscriptions)
• Google: Google Play subscriptions settings

If you can’t cancel using self-serve

Use QuickBooks support (chat or request a callback inside the product). Some higher-tier plans may push you to contact support to cancel. Stay firm and request cancellation directly.

QuickBooks Online cancellation is usually simple. The key is timing it before your next charge.

• Monthly subscriptions (most common):
  Cancel before your next billing date to avoid being charged for the next month. A safe practice is cancelling 1–3 days before renewal.
• Annual subscriptions:
  
  • If you’re within 60 days of purchase (and eligible), cancel and request a refund within that window.
  • Otherwise, cancel before the annual renewal date to avoid another year being charged.
• Free trials:
  If you entered a payment method during a trial, cancel at least 1 day before the trial ends to avoid an automatic charge. If you never entered payment details, the trial may simply end without billing.
• No one-month notice period:
  Unlike some accounting platforms, QuickBooks Online typically does not require a month’s notice. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current paid period.
• After cancellation: data access timeline:
  After cancellation, your company file generally switches to read-only access. You can usually view/export data for a period (often up to one year for a cancelled company file, depending on your account setup). If you need long-term records, export key reports early

• No cancellation fee:
  Intuit does not charge a special fee for cancelling QuickBooks Online.
• No pro-rata refunds for unused time (monthly):
  If you cancel mid-month, you generally won’t get money back for unused days. Instead, you keep access until the end of the current billing period.
• Annual plan “lost value” risk:
  If you cancel an annual plan after the refund window, you may not get money back for remaining months - it's not a fee, but it can feel like one. If you’re near purchase date, check the 60-day money-back guarantee eligibility.
• Past-due balances still matter:
  Cancelling doesn’t erase legitimate subscription fees already owed. If you have an outstanding balance, resolve it to avoid follow-up collection activity.
• Third-party purchases:
  If you subscribed via Apple/Google, charges and cancellation are controlled by those platforms. Intuit generally can’t stop billing or refund those directly.