Intuit has recently released several announcements regarding the new features and purchasing options for QuickBooks that arrive with QuickBooks 2024 which will affect a great deal of people and companies. And, these changes are coming up in the next four months, so some decisions will have to be made soon by many.
Most importantly, the desktop version of QuickBooks will no longer be available for purchase after July 31st. The programs are not being discontinued, but new subscriptions will not be allowed after July.
Intuit is recommending that users move to QuickBooks Online and emphasize that if you wish to continue to work through the desktop version you must purchase an annual subscription version before July 31st.
QuickBooks will not be selling new subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus, QuickBooks Desktop Mac Plus, or QuickBooks Desktop Enhanced Payroll after July– only subscriptions for the online option will be available after this date.
Existing annual subscriptions can be renewed up until July 31, but cannot be renewed after. According to QuickBooks, they will continue to provide security updates, product updates, and support for existing subscribers as per the subscription terms.
QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise subscriptions, however, will still be available for purchase after July 31.
After your product is no longer supported by Intuit, you will not receive critical updates which may put your security at risk, plus payroll features will no longer update, meaning that tax tables and state rules will no longer get updated to reflect current rates and laws.
Although the change to the purchasing options may be a bit messy and confusing, QuickBooks Desktop 2024 does come with some improvements from previous versions. According to QuickBooks, the 2024 version comes with better data security, heightened productivity, and a better view of inventory levels. In recent announcements they have promoted their enhanced search feature, seamless background product updates, and high-end security protocols, as well as a new ability to track customer prepayments, enhanced category management, detailed inventory reports, automated reminders, faster payments, and more. In other words, it may be worth it to upgrade, even if the process sounds a bit unappealing.
All this is to say that if you’ve gotten used to using your QuickBooks as the desktop version, you will be forced to change at some point soon; there’s really no way around it. The only two options are to migrate to QuickBooks Online, or to purchase an annual subscription to continue to use it on your desktop. Keep in mind that, if you should permit your desktop subscription to expire, you again lose access to live technical support and will no longer receive the latest critical security updates and patches. Plus, any add-on services that you may have integrated into QuickBooks, such as Desktop Payroll, Desktop Payments and online bank feeds, will cease. Subscription versions are an ongoing annual expense. And it sounds like once a subscription is permitted to lapse, a new subscription will not be possible, other than Desktop Enterprise subscriptions, as they will not be offered for new purchase past July 31st of this year.
Our recommendation is to access the information pages available at quickbooks.intuit.com to review rates and options and/or chat with one of their advisors to help determine which option will work best for you and your company going forward.
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