Table of Contents
If you’re still on QuickBooks Desktop, whether you need to move depends on which version you run.
Intuit has stopped selling Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Mac Plus to new customers, [1] Intuit Can’t buy QuickBooks Desktop as a new US subscriber View source ↗ stopped releasing new versions, and has ended support version by version through Desktop 2023, which lost support on May 31, 2026. [2] Intuit QuickBooks Desktop 2023 service discontinuation policy View source ↗ QuickBooks Desktop 2024 is the final release. [3] Intuit Understand the QuickBooks Desktop release process View source ↗ Intuit now says Desktop 2024 won’t be discontinued in May 2027 and has no sunset deadline. [4] Intuit What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 View source ↗
If you run Desktop 2023 or earlier, your version is already unsupported. If you run Desktop 2024, there is no deadline to meet. The case for planning a move is that no new Desktop versions are coming, Enterprise is the only Desktop edition Intuit sells to new customers, [1] Intuit Can’t buy QuickBooks Desktop as a new US subscriber View source ↗ and Intuit raised Desktop renewal prices on February 1, 2026 and again for renewals on or after October 1, 2026. [5] Insightful Accountant Intuit Announces Pricing Changes for QuickBooks Desktop View source ↗ [6] Insightful Accountant Breaking News: Intuit Announces Desktop Pricing Changes for Fall 2026 View source ↗
Who this is for: Business owners and office managers currently running QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, Mac, or Enterprise) who need to understand what’s changing, when it affects them, and what to do about it. If your firm manages client trust funds (IOLTA), this guide addresses that specifically.
The Short Version
Our Recommendation for Most Businesses
- Desktop 2023 or earlier → Act now. Your support has ended.
- Desktop 2024 → Plan on your own schedule. Intuit has set no end date for 2024, so there is no deadline to meet. A migration done well takes 2–3 weeks; pick a quiet period.
- Most businesses under 25 users with straightforward accounting → Move to QuickBooks Online. It’s the right default for the majority of professional services firms and law offices.
- Businesses with complex inventory, job costing, or 25+ users → Evaluate Enterprise or cloud-hosted Desktop as a bridge.
- Not sure? → Talk to us. We’ll look at your setup and tell you directly.
What’s Happening to QuickBooks Desktop?
Intuit has changed how it sells and supports QuickBooks Desktop in three ways:
Move 1: No More New Sales
As of September 30, 2024, Intuit stopped selling new subscriptions for QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus, and Desktop Enhanced Payroll to new U.S. customers. Existing subscribers can continue to renew, but no new accounts can be created. [1] Intuit Can’t buy QuickBooks Desktop as a new US subscriber View source ↗
Move 2: Version-by-Version Sunsets
Each Desktop version has historically received about three years of support. [4] Intuit What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 View source ↗ When support ends, every feature that connects to Intuit’s servers stops working:
| Version | Support End Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Desktop 2021 | May 31, 2024 [7] Intuit (archived) QuickBooks Desktop service discontinuation policy View source ↗ | Ended |
| QuickBooks Desktop 2022 | May 31, 2025 [8] Intuit (archived) QuickBooks Desktop 2022 service discontinuation policy View source ↗ | Ended |
| QuickBooks Desktop 2023 | May 31, 2026 [2] Intuit QuickBooks Desktop 2023 service discontinuation policy View source ↗ | Ended |
| QuickBooks Desktop 2024 | No sunset date* | Final version |
*Intuit had planned to end support for Desktop 2024 in May 2027. It now says Desktop 2024 (Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and Enterprise Solutions) won’t be discontinued in May 2027, that it is moving away from the three-year lifecycle, and that there is no sunset deadline for this release. [4] Intuit What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 View source ↗
Move 3: No More Versions
Desktop 2024 is the last release. There will be no 2025, 2026, or 2027 version. [3] Intuit Understand the QuickBooks Desktop release process View source ↗ Intuit has been issuing periodic updates to the 2024 version instead. [4] Intuit What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 View source ↗
The Exception: QuickBooks Enterprise
QuickBooks Enterprise continues to be sold, updated, and supported separately. It is the only Desktop edition still sold to new customers. [1] Intuit Can’t buy QuickBooks Desktop as a new US subscriber View source ↗
What Happens When Your Version Loses Support?
The software doesn’t stop working: you can still open your company file and enter transactions. [9] Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Payroll discontinuation policy View source ↗ But several critical functions will stop: [2] Intuit QuickBooks Desktop 2023 service discontinuation policy View source ↗
- Security patches end. New vulnerabilities will not be fixed.
- Payroll tax tables freeze. Payroll calculations will become inaccurate.
- Bank feeds disconnect. No more automatic transaction imports.
- QuickBooks Payments stops. Credit card processing and online payment links shut off.
- Online backup ends. [8] Intuit (archived) QuickBooks Desktop 2022 service discontinuation policy View source ↗
- Technical support ends. If your file corrupts, Intuit won’t help.
For Law Firms
Running unsupported accounting software that holds client trust account data is a compliance and security risk. State bar associations audit IOLTA accounts, and your cyber insurance carrier may exclude coverage for breaches involving unsupported software.
How to Check Your Version
Open QuickBooks Desktop and press F2 (or Ctrl+1). Your version year and release number appear at the top.
Your Options
Option 1: Migrate to QuickBooks Online (QBO), Our Default Recommendation
We recommend QBO for the majority of our clients. It handles invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, bank feeds, and financial reporting in a cloud-based platform that requires zero infrastructure on your end. Your accountant gets direct access, updates are automatic, and you can work from anywhere.
What you gain: Cloud access from any device, automatic updates, more than 800 app integrations, [10] Intuit QuickBooks Integrations View source ↗ real-time multi-user collaboration, mobile app, AI-powered features (currently “Intuit Intelligence”). [11] Intuit QuickBooks Online Pricing & Free Trial View source ↗
What you give up: Not every Desktop feature has a QBO equivalent. The gaps that matter most:
- Sales orders: Plus and Advanced only; Simple Start and Essentials need the Inventory add-on [12] Intuit Create and manage sales orders View source ↗
- Inventory costing: FIFO or moving average cost only (no LIFO) [13] Intuit Inventory valuation methods for cost accounting View source ↗
- Batch invoicing and batch transaction editing: QBO Advanced only [11] Intuit QuickBooks Online Pricing & Free Trial View source ↗
- Industry-specific editions: do not exist in QBO
- Advanced job costing: more limited
- Offline access: QBO requires an internet connection [14] Intuit Move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
For Law Firms: Trust Accounting
In our assessment, QBO does not include built-in IOLTA or trust accounting functionality: no native trust accounting module, no per-matter client ledger, no three-way reconciliation report. Trust accounting can be configured manually in QBO, but we recommend that law firms pair it with legal practice management software (Clio, LeanLaw, CosmoLex) to handle compliance safeguards and audit trails.
If your firm manages client trust funds, factor this into your evaluation.
In our experience, for most professional services firms and law offices, these gaps are manageable. If none of these limitations affect your daily operations, QBO is the right move. Do not stay on unsupported Desktop software to avoid a migration.
QBO List Pricing (September 2026)
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Users |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $38/mo | 1 |
| Essentials | $85/mo | 3 |
| Plus | $140/mo | 5 |
| Advanced | $340/mo | 25 |
Prices are Intuit’s list prices. [11] Intuit QuickBooks Online Pricing & Free Trial View source ↗ Payroll is a separate add-on, now sold as QuickBooks Workforce: Workforce Payroll lists at $50/mo + $7/employee, before the accounting plan. [15] Intuit Payroll Services Pricing View source ↗
Option 2: Upgrade to QuickBooks Enterprise
Choose Enterprise only if you genuinely need its advanced capabilities: advanced inventory with barcode scanning and multi-location tracking, more than 25 concurrent users, ODBC connectivity, or intercompany transaction management. If you don’t need those features, Enterprise is an expensive way to avoid change.
Intuit lists single-user Enterprise from $2,210/year for Gold to $5,363/year for Diamond. [16] Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Pricing View source ↗ Since February 1, 2026, Gold and Platinum also carry a per-employee fee for customers who run payroll through them. [17] Intuit Understand changes to your per employee fees in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise View source ↗
Intuit has set no sunset date for Enterprise 24.0 as of September 2026, [4] Intuit What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 View source ↗ but no new Desktop versions are coming, so we expect firms on Enterprise to face the same decision later.
Option 3: Cloud-Hosted QuickBooks Desktop
Cloud hosting runs your Desktop license on a remote server managed by a hosting provider. You access it via Remote Desktop from any device. This preserves the full Desktop feature set while adding remote access, which makes it useful as a bridge strategy for businesses that need Desktop-specific features while planning a longer-term migration.
Hosting is billed by the provider on top of the QuickBooks license. Hosted-Desktop providers price per user per month, so get quotes from more than one. Intuit maintains a list of authorized providers. [18] Intuit Compare the best QuickBooks Desktop hosting providers View source ↗
Hosting Does Not Extend Support
Hosting does not extend Intuit’s support lifecycle. If your underlying Desktop version reaches its end-of-support date, payroll, bank feeds, and security patches still stop.
The Migration Process: Desktop to QBO
Before You Start
- Back up your company file. Single-user mode → File > Back Up Company > Create Local Backup. Test it.
- Update Desktop to the latest release.
- Reconcile all accounts: bank, credit cards, everything.
- Clean up your data. Fix old open invoices, duplicate vendors, and chart of accounts issues now. Clean data migrates cleanly.
- Save key reports. Export Balance Sheet, P&L, AR Aging, AP Aging for post-migration comparison.
The Migration
- In Desktop: Company > Export Company File to QuickBooks Online. [19] Intuit How to resolve issues when importing from QuickBooks Desktop for Windows to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Sign in to your QBO account (or create one). [20] Intuit Firm of the Future Guide to convert QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Choose what data to bring over. [20] Intuit Firm of the Future Guide to convert QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Upload. The time depends on the size of your company file. [21] Intuit Learn about switching from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Intuit emails you when complete. [20] Intuit Firm of the Future Guide to convert QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
Critical Constraints
- Total Targets under 4,000,000. Press F2 or Ctrl+1 to check. Files over 750,000 targets may take longer to migrate. [21] Intuit Learn about switching from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- 90-day import window. Your QBO account must be less than 90 days old to import Desktop data (180 days if an accountant creates the account). Miss this window and you won’t be able to import into that account. [21] Intuit Learn about switching from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Importing replaces everything in the target QBO account. [14] Intuit Move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
After Migration
- Compare reports (P&L, Balance Sheet, AR, AP) between Desktop and QBO. [22] Intuit Learn what to do after you move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Reconnect bank feeds, which do not transfer. [21] Intuit Learn about switching from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗ QuickBooks Payments accounts move automatically. [22] Intuit Learn what to do after you move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Re-enter recurring transactions that didn’t carry over. [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Verify and adjust payroll data. Historical payroll details do not migrate in full. [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
Realistic Timeline
2–3 weeks from start to finish.
Where Migrations Go Wrong
We’ve managed enough of these to know the common failure points. Watch for:
- Dirty data going in. Unreconciled accounts, duplicate vendors, and old open transactions carry over as problems, not as clean data. If the books aren’t clean before migration, the new system will be wrong from day one.
- Payroll mismatches. Historical payroll details don’t fully migrate. Paychecks convert as regular checks; [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗ YTD numbers, payroll item breakdowns, and liability refunds need to be manually verified and re-entered. Firms that don’t catch this end up with incorrect payroll reports.
- Bank feeds not reconnected. Bank and credit card connections don’t transfer automatically. If you don’t reconnect them promptly, you’ll have a gap in transaction data.
- Users not trained. QBO has a different interface and different workflows than Desktop. If your team isn’t walked through the changes, the first two weeks will be chaotic: transactions entered incorrectly, reports run wrong, and frustration that leads to “we should have stayed on Desktop” conversations.
- Migration during busy periods. Never migrate during quarter-end, fiscal year-end, or tax season. The disruption compounds when deadlines are tight.
What Doesn’t Transfer from Desktop to Online
- Historical payroll data: paychecks convert as regular checks; granular details don’t carry over [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Custom templates: must be recreated in QBO [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Memorized transaction groups: do not migrate; memorized transactions become recurring transactions [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Price levels: not available in QBO [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Batch transactions: available in QBO Advanced only [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Custom fields on items and employees: do not move [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Attachments: only files of 30 MB or smaller move [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
- Audit trail and reconciliation reports: stay in the old Desktop file; save PDFs [23] Intuit Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online View source ↗
When Should You Act?
| If You’re On… | Status | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop 2022 or earlier | Support has ended. | Move immediately. You are running unsupported software. |
| Desktop 2023 | Support ended May 31, 2026. [2] Intuit QuickBooks Desktop 2023 service discontinuation policy View source ↗ | Move immediately. You are running unsupported software. |
| Desktop 2024 | No sunset date announced. [4] Intuit What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024 View source ↗ | No deadline. Evaluate on your own schedule and move during a quiet period. |
| Enterprise | No announced end date. | No urgent action, but have a long-term plan. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep using QuickBooks Desktop after support ends?
Yes. The software doesn’t stop working. But you’ll lose security patches, payroll tax tables, bank feeds, Payments, and technical support. For businesses handling sensitive financial data, this creates real risk.
What’s the biggest risk of switching to QBO?
Data that doesn’t transfer cleanly, particularly payroll history and custom configurations. The risk is manageable with proper preparation, but it’s not zero. The bigger risk is staying on unsupported software indefinitely.
How long does a migration actually take?
The data transfer itself takes a few hours. The full process (pre-cleanup, migration, bank feed reconnection, verification, and team training) typically takes 2–3 weeks.
Does QuickBooks Online handle IOLTA / trust accounting?
In our assessment, not natively. QBO can be configured for trust accounting through manual setup, but it lacks built-in per-matter ledgers, three-way reconciliation reports, and overdraft safeguards. We recommend that law firms pair QBO with legal practice management software (Clio, LeanLaw, CosmoLex) to handle this.
Should I move to Enterprise instead of QBO?
Only if you need features QBO genuinely can’t provide: advanced inventory, ODBC connectivity, 25+ users, or intercompany transactions. For most professional services firms and law offices, Enterprise is overkill and significantly more expensive.
Not Sure What You Should Do?
We’ll look at your current setup and tell you directly whether you should stay on Desktop, move to QBO, or consider Enterprise. No pitch, just a clear recommendation based on what we see.
We’ve guided dozens of businesses through this transition. The earlier you start planning, the smoother it goes.
For a detailed comparison of current QuickBooks products, see our companion article: QuickBooks in 2026: A Guide to Current Offerings.
Contact us to schedule a review
References and Standards
- [1] Intuit, Can’t buy QuickBooks Desktop as a new US subscriber, QuickBooks Support, updated August 4, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/new-subscriptions/us-quickbooks-desktop-sold-july-2024/L5lkQNq7L_US_en_US
- [2] Intuit, QuickBooks Desktop 2023 service discontinuation policy, QuickBooks Support, updated August 5, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/feature-preferences/quickbooks-desktop-service-discontinuation-policy/L17cXxlie_US_en_US
- [3] Intuit, Understand the QuickBooks Desktop release process, QuickBooks Support, updated October 19, 2026. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/update-products/understand-quickbooks-desktop-release-process/L2tnnGnFE_US_en_US
- [4] Intuit, What’s new in QuickBooks Desktop 2024, QuickBooks Support, updated September 18, 2026. Accessed September 27, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/whats-new-quickbooks-desktop-2024/L381Krc4A_US_en_US
- [5] William Murphy, Intuit Announces Pricing Changes for QuickBooks Desktop, Insightful Accountant, December 2, 2025. Accessed September 27, 2026. https://blog.insightfulaccountant.com/intuit-announces-pricing-changes-for-quickbooks-desktop
- [6] Insightful Accountant, Breaking News: Intuit Announces Desktop Pricing Changes for Fall 2026, Insightful Accountant, July 14, 2026. Accessed September 27, 2026. https://blog.insightfulaccountant.com/breaking-news-intuit-announces-desktop-pricing-changes-for-fall-2026
- [7] Intuit, QuickBooks Desktop service discontinuation policy, QuickBooks Support, archived by the Internet Archive, updated January 8, 2024, archived February 23, 2024. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20240223083338/https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/feature-preferences/quickbooks-desktop-service-discontinuation-policy/L17cXxlie_US_en_US Internet Archive copy captured February 23, 2024; the live page no longer lists Desktop 2021.
- [8] Intuit, QuickBooks Desktop 2022 service discontinuation policy, QuickBooks Support, archived by the Internet Archive, archived June 10, 2025. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20250610015327/https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/feature-preferences/quickbooks-desktop-service-discontinuation-policy/L17cXxlie_US_en_US Internet Archive copy captured June 10, 2025; the live page no longer lists Desktop 2022.
- [9] Intuit, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll discontinuation policy, QuickBooks Support, updated August 4, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/payroll-setup/quickbooks-desktop-discontinuation-faq-payroll/L9ibWi1s1_US_en_US
- [10] Intuit, QuickBooks Integrations, QuickBooks. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/online/integrations/
- [11] Intuit, QuickBooks Online Pricing & Free Trial, QuickBooks. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/
- [12] Intuit, Create and manage sales orders, QuickBooks Support, updated August 5, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/sales-orders/create-manage-sales-orders-quickbooks-online/L1K2AQ1Lx_US_en_US
- [13] Intuit, Inventory valuation methods for cost accounting, QuickBooks Support, updated August 14, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/inventory-management/fifo-used-inventory-cost-accounting/L1x3hkunE_US_en_US
- [14] Intuit, Move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Support, updated August 5, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/migrate-services/migrate-quickbooks-desktop-quickbooks-online/L3qXKVcIK_US_en_US
- [15] Intuit, Payroll Services Pricing, QuickBooks. Accessed October 23, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing/
- [16] Intuit, QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Pricing, QuickBooks. Accessed September 30, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/desktop/enterprise/pricing/
- [17] Intuit, Understand changes to your per employee fees in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, QuickBooks Support, updated September 1, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-subscriptions/understand-changes-per-employee-multi-company-file/L4uifTLCZ_US_en_US
- [18] Intuit, Compare the best QuickBooks Desktop hosting providers, QuickBooks Support, updated August 4, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/product-setup/hosting-providers-authorized-intuit/L3RAbICtq_US_en_US
- [19] Intuit, How to resolve issues when importing from QuickBooks Desktop for Windows to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Support, updated August 5, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/resolve-issues-importing-quickbooks-desktop-online/L9REwunLa_US_en_US
- [20] Firm of the Future Team, Guide to convert QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, Intuit Firm of the Future, updated August 26, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://www.firmofthefuture.com/migrating-to-quickbooks-online/accountants-guide-to-convert-quickbooks-desktop-to-quickbooks-online/
- [21] Intuit, Learn about switching from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Support, updated August 20, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/accounting-bookkeeping/learn-converting-quickbooks-desktop-quickbooks/L8TAphzFD_US_en_US
- [22] Intuit, Learn what to do after you move from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Support, updated August 5, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/convert-files/converting-quickbooks-desktop-windows-mac-online/L6QYzKBOV_US_en_US
- [23] Intuit, Learn how features and data transfer from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Support, updated September 11, 2026. Accessed September 25, 2026. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/expect-switch-quickbooks-desktop-quickbooks-online/L0dEyNosU_US_en_US
This article is provided for informational purposes by DP3. Product details, pricing, and timelines are based on publicly available information from Intuit and third-party sources as of September 2026 and are subject to change. Always verify current details directly with Intuit before making purchasing or migration decisions.