Xero has a strict permission rule and a one-month notice requirement that many users don’t expect.

• Only the Subscriber can cancel: In Xero, only the organisation’s Subscriber (the billing account owner) can cancel a trial or paid subscription. If you’re logged in as a staff member or advisor without Subscriber access, you won’t see the cancellation option.
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• Trials vs paid subscriptions:
  
  • Trial accounts: Can be cancelled at any time before the trial ends to avoid being charged.
  • Paid subscriptions: Can be cancelled at any time, but a one-month cancellation notice period applies.
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• One-month notice policy: When you cancel a paid plan, Xero schedules the cancellation to take effect 30 days later. You keep full access during this period and will be billed for that final month.
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• No special exemptions: There are no early-exit clauses or penalty fees. You can cancel whenever you choose, but the one-month notice always applies for paid plans.
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• Data retention & access: Cancelling does not delete your data immediately. After the cancellation takes effect, your organisation moves into read-only access, allowing you to view or export records for compliance purposes. You can reactivate later if needed.

Xero cancellations are completed inside your subscription and billing settings.

1. Log in as the Subscriber
   Sign in using the account that owns billing for the organisation you want to cancel. Only Subscribers can complete this process.
2. Open Subscription & billing (My Xero)
   From your organisation menu, go to Subscription and billing to view your current plan.
3. Select “Cancel subscription”
   Locate your active subscription and choose the option to cancel. You may be asked to select a reason for leaving.
4. Confirm cancellation
   Confirm your request. Xero will display the effective cancellation date (typically 30 days later) and send a confirmation email.
5. Use your notice period
   You’ll retain full access during the notice month. This is the best time to export reports, invoices, and any data you want to keep locally.

If you can’t see the cancel option or no longer have Subscriber access: you’ll need to contact Xero support through their online help system to request assistance.

Xero works differently from many subscription services.

• Paid subscriptions: Cancellation always includes a one-month notice period. Your account remains active until the termination date.
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• Billing cycle impact: There is no way to cancel “just before renewal” to avoid charges. Once you cancel, you’ll still pay for the next month of service, regardless of where you are in the billing cycle.
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• No follow-up required: You don’t need to cancel again later. Once confirmed, Xero automatically ends the subscription after the notice period.
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• Trial accounts: Trials must be cancelled before the trial end date to avoid conversion to a paid plan.
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• Data access timeline: After cancellation takes effect, your data remains accessible in read-only mode for several years, allowing compliance with tax and record-keeping requirements.

• No cancellation penalty fee: Xero does not charge a separate fee just for cancelling.
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• Final month payment: You should expect to pay for the one-month notice period after cancelling. This is not a penalty - it’s part of Xero’s standard termination terms.
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• No pro-rata refunds: Xero does not issue partial credits for unused days. You pay for the full notice month and retain access throughout.
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• Add-ons and connected services: Cancelling your main Xero subscription does not always cancel optional add-ons or connected services. Review your subscriptions carefully to avoid ongoing charges.
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• GST and invoices: Final invoices for Australian users include GST. Even after cancellation, you can access past invoices in read-only mode.