L
Lila Godel
My company has G/L in QuickBooks desktop and payroll in a QuickBooks Online QBOA file that was created when its payroll subscription and my client's payroll subscriptions were migrated from the now discontinued Inuit On-Line payroll to QuickBooks Online Payroll in May of 2022.
I would like to have G/L and payroll in the QBOA Online file and migrate my personal QuickBooks desktop file to a new QuickBooks online file so I can cancel my PAP software subscription ideally before it renews in January 2026.
I tried to convert the desktop file to online using the steps at https://www.firmofthefuture.com/product-update/april-2025-mpu/#payroll.
When I select Migrate this company file to QuickBooks Online from the Company menu in Desktop and click the green Get started button, I am able to click the green continue button with Bring all your company data selected.
I then get presented with a selection titled Create a new company followed by selections for my QBOA file and my clients' online files which are all payroll only files.
The existing companies have a blue circle next to them.
When I mouse over it a get a tool tip that reads:
Migrate just your accounting data
You can bring over just your accounting data from QuickBooks desktop to this company.
Your existing Online payroll data won't change.
As soon as I select my QBOA file I get presented with the error in my attached screen shot and the green continue button is not selectable.
I cannot delete the only employee in the QBOA file as there are paychecks attached to it and if I could that would defeat the purpose of the new feature which is supposed to let me bring in G/L data and keep payroll transactions. I don't want the existing payroll transactions and payroll setup in the Online file deleted during the migration.
Having a technical support agent reset the counter in the online file that blocks conversion from desktop after 60 days of the file being active did not clear the error message.
Another support agent told me that converting from desktop to online would delete my payroll data, but when I directed them to the firm of the future article they said the feature is only for client files not firm files.
On a different day I tried unsuccessfully to get a technical support agent to start a data services case so I can have them confirm if they can do this conversion for me or if it is not possible. They wanted to insist that conversion would wipe out my payroll data.
Please consider making conversion from desktop into online payroll only firm files possible.