QuickBooks Desktop discontinued in Canada: what it means and what to do
If you have heard that QuickBooks Desktop is being discontinued, here is what Intuit has actually said for Canada, what it means if you already use Desktop, and a calm plan for what to do next. Every date on this page comes from Intuit's own pages, linked at the bottom.
Last checked October 20, 2026
The short answer
QuickBooks Desktop is not switched off. Since 15 April 2025, Intuit no longer sells QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier or the related Desktop Payroll services to new subscribers in Canada. If you already have a subscription, you can keep using your current version while the subscription stays active. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is not affected and is still sold.
What Intuit changed in Canada
Intuit's Canadian Desktop page answers the question directly: as of April 15, 2025, QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier and associated payroll services are no longer available for new subscribers. Existing subscribers can continue using their current version as long as their subscription remains active, and QuickBooks Enterprise remains available for purchase.
In practice that means you cannot buy Pro or Premier for a new business or a second company, and you cannot start Desktop Payroll if you do not already have it.
What happened in the United States
The US change came first. Intuit stopped selling new subscriptions to Desktop Pro Plus, Premier Plus, Mac Plus and Desktop Enhanced Payroll after 30 September 2024. Existing US subscribers can renew, and Enterprise is still sold there too.
Which versions still get support
Intuit retires older Desktop versions on a schedule. Its discontinuation policy says QuickBooks Desktop 2023 stopped getting support after 31 May 2026, which covers live support, payroll, bank feeds and security updates. Intuit's advice to those users is to upgrade to Desktop Plus 2024 or Enterprise 24.0.
Desktop Plus 2024 and Enterprise 24.0 were the last annual releases; there is no 2025 or 2026 edition. Intuit has not published an end-of-support date for Desktop 2024. Some blogs and accounting firms quote a date, but until Intuit publishes one, treat it as an estimate.
If you already use QuickBooks Desktop
You have time, but not unlimited time. Check two things today: which version you are on (press F2 in QuickBooks Desktop) and when your subscription renews. If you are on a version that has lost support, you are running without security updates, and payroll and bank feeds stop working.
Your options are to keep renewing for now, to move up to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, to move to QuickBooks Online using Intuit's own migration path, or to move to other accounting software such as Sage 50, Xero or SeroBooks. Each suits a different kind of business.
If you are starting a new business
You cannot buy QuickBooks Desktop Pro or Premier in Canada for it. Choose software you can keep for years: one that handles GST, HST, PST and QST for the provinces you sell into, keeps your bank reconciliation simple, and fits how you work, on one computer or several.
A calm plan for the next 90 days
1. Note your version and renewal date, and put the renewal date in your calendar with a month's warning.
2. Back up your company file and run Verify Data.
3. Write down what you rely on Desktop for: payroll, inventory, sales tax in which provinces, Amazon or other sales channels, reports your accountant asks for.
4. Shortlist two or three replacements that cover that list, and try them with your own data, not a demo company.
5. Pick a cutover date at the start of a month, quarter or fiscal year, and talk to your accountant about it.
Our QuickBooks Desktop migration guide covers the move itself step by step.
Where SeroBooks fits
SeroBooks is Canadian accounting software made for businesses leaving QuickBooks Desktop. It imports your QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online company with a dry run before anything is written, works out GST, HST, PST, RST and QST per line for all 13 provinces and territories, and keeps invoicing, banking, inventory and, on the Pro plan, payroll in one ledger. It runs on Windows, macOS, Android and the web. It needs an internet connection and does not work offline.
If you want to talk it through, book a free 15-minute call with the founder, or WhatsApp or call 604-800-0897. If you move, the setup and migration help is free.
Rather talk it through first?
Book a free 15-minute call with the founder. We look at your current books, answer your questions, and show you what moving would involve. If you go ahead, we help you set up and bring your company across at no charge. No obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks Desktop being discontinued in Canada?
Not switched off. Intuit stopped selling QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier and Desktop Payroll to new Canadian subscribers on 15 April 2025. Existing subscribers can keep using their version while their subscription is active, and Enterprise is still sold.
Can I still buy QuickBooks Desktop in Canada?
Not Pro or Premier. QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is still available for purchase, according to Intuit's Canadian page.
What happens when my QuickBooks Desktop version loses support?
Intuit's policy for Desktop 2023, which lost support after 31 May 2026, is that live support, payroll, bank feeds and security updates stop. The software may still open, but you are running without updates.
When does QuickBooks Desktop 2024 lose support?
Intuit has not published a date. Dates quoted elsewhere are estimates. Check Intuit's discontinuation policy page for an official announcement.
Can I keep my QuickBooks Desktop data if I move?
Yes. Keep a backup of your company file and a copy of QuickBooks Desktop that opens it. The CRA generally expects business records to be kept for six years from the end of the last tax year they relate to.
What are the alternatives to QuickBooks Desktop in Canada?
QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise (still sold), QuickBooks Online, Sage 50, Xero and SeroBooks are the ones most Canadian Desktop users look at. The right one depends on whether you sell products, which provinces you deal with, and whether you need payroll.