QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Schedule

QuickBooks, the most wanted accounting software is going to shut its certain services from May 31st,2021. QuickBooks has a policy of discontinuation usually referred to as the Sunset Policy QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Schedule.

Under the policy, the basic functionalities remain the same. It aims at discontinuing certain online server-based services to lighten the load at the server. It consequently makes the working of the software more efficient. The Sunset is scheduled every year on May 31st.

Official notification of discontinuity –QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Scheduled on May 31st, 2021

After May 31, 2021, access to add-on services will be discontinued for QuickBooks Desktop for Windows 2018.

QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Scheduled on May 31st, 2021. Intuit Inc. has announced that it is going to discontinue a few of the services of the older version QuickBooks 2018. Several Live Helpline services, payroll services, Bank Feeds generated online or Online Banking, or any other online service will not work from June 1st, 2021 onwards. In short, the add-on services which acquire Intuit server space will no longer work.

The basic accounting services of QuickBooks 2018 which do not require to be stored on the QuickBooks server, will continue to work.

What will not Work in QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Schedule after May 31^st?

The add-on server-based services especially the Live Feed or Live Help feature will not work. The services which will not work namely Automated calculated Payroll, providing updated forms, processing worker’s comp payments, getting live Bank Feeds timely basis, QuickBooks Workforce access will be denied.

E-invoice generation, merchant services, ACFT, Maintaining an Online Backup, Recurring Payments generation, Multi-currency or Exchange Rate operations, Online bill payment, Contributed Report generation, Live Helpdesk, these are some of the services which are QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Schedule.

Why the closure of the older version services-?

QuickBooks customers are not happy with the yearly discontinuation policy of theirs. They make a fuss about the services discontinued and show disappointment while asking why they get to suffer every year.

Well, an answer to this question could be with the servers getting loaded with a huge amount of information, the processing of the software slows down. Hence, to share the load, it is required to take away some services.

It not only increases the working speed of the application but enhances productivity as well.

 The best part is that QuickBooks while taking away certain services of the older versions, gives you a whole new set of applications to make your business accounting an improvised one.

How to gear up for the Scheduled Discontinuation-

It is better to gear up for the discontinuation process before it occurs. For that matter, maintain a backup of your existing Company File to a specified and safe location. Get yourself updated with the latest version of QuickBooks which is QuickBooks 2021 before the end of May.

Here is the list of products that will remain unaffected from the sunset or discontinuation-

• QuickBooks Desktop (QBD) Pro and Premier version 2021, version 2020, version 2019.
• QuickBooks Enterprise (QBE) Solutions version 21, version 20, version 19.
• QuickBooks Desktop (QBD) Accountant version 2021, version 2020, version 2019.
• QuickBooks Desktop (QBD) Point of Sales version 18.0 and version19.0

The affected QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation products-

he products services of which will be affected are-

• QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2018, 2018 edition of QuickBooks Desktop Premier (the services affected- General Business Services, Contractor services, services related to Manufacturing & Wholesale, Nonprofit services, Professional and Retail Services.)
• QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions version 18.
• QuickBooks Premier Accountant version 2018
• And there is one product service of which will be discontinued after April 27, 2021, which is QuickBooks Desktop Point of Sale version 12.0 payments services.

Thinking to Upgrade – QuickBooks 2018 to QuickBooks 2021

If you are thinking of an upgrade to the latest QuickBooks 2021 version, go ahead, shop for it. 

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One thing to keep in mind while shopping for the latest QuickBooks version is, you will get a free one-time help session in the initial 60 days of the purchase. The session is valid for 60 minutes and guides you regarding the installation and activation process.

 Once the 60-minute time slot disappears, you can no longer get the help. Yes, but you can get help later by contacting the helpline number or via email.

New and Improved Features of QuickBooks 2021-

QuickBooks 2021 is power-packed with new improved and efficient features which were not there earlier in the previous versions of QuickBooks-

Improved and Polished Bank Feeds-

The new edition of QuickBooks 2021, provides you with automated categorized bank transactions. The process is made done by the usage of enhanced rules, batch editing function, and improved matching process.

Freedom to create customer groups-

Now, with QuickBooks 2021 you will be able to create rule-based customer groups. These groups can be made based on customer type, customer status, customer location, and customer balance. Categorizing customers will make the management process a lot easier. Communicating with your customers will be hands-on from now on.

Automated Statements-

Once you upgrade your QuickBooks, you will be able to save your time by sending automated statement emails, due to different-different group of customers based on their requirements.

Points to keep in mind- 

• If you do not use any add-on services provided by Inuit QuickBooks, you need not worry, the basic functions of your QuickBooks will work as usual.
• Online technical help will no longer be available. There is a member help page available though at the official website of QuickBooks.
• If you receive any software updates prior to the QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Schedule date which May 31^st, 2021, kindly install them to save your company data and information.
• Do prepare a backup of your company file before you update your QuickBooks to a specified location.

Now, when you are aware of QuickBooks 2018 Discontinuation Schedule, it is good to equip yourself with the system requirements, backup files, clearing up cache, making space for storage, before downloading the update or buying the updated version of QuickBooks 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)-

Will my QuickBooks 2018 not work after the scheduled discontinuation?