Running payroll in Canada comes with its own set of rules, deadlines, and responsibilities. Between CRA compliance, tax table updates, ROEs, and year-end filings, it’s not something most business owners want to guess their way through. That’s where QuickBooks Canada Payroll and QuickBooks Accountant Desktop 2024 work best together.
If you’re a business owner working with an accountant—or an accounting professional managing payroll for clients—connecting payroll support properly inside QuickBooks Desktop 2024 is essential. When set up correctly, it creates a smooth workflow where payroll data is accurate, compliant, and easy to review.
This guide walks you through how to connect QuickBooks Canada Payroll support to Accountant Desktop 2024, step by step, using plain language and real-world context. Whether you’re setting things up for the first time or cleaning up an existing file, this article will help you get it right.
Understanding the Relationship Between Payroll and Accountant Desktop
Before jumping into the technical steps, it helps to understand how the pieces fit together.
What Is QuickBooks Canada Payroll?
QuickBooks Canada Payroll is an add-on service designed specifically for Canadian businesses. It handles:
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Federal and provincial tax calculations
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CPP, EI, and income tax deductions
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CRA remittances and forms
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ROEs and T4/T4A slips
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Payroll tax table updates
Payroll runs directly inside QuickBooks Desktop, not as a separate application.
What Is QuickBooks Accountant Desktop 2024?
QuickBooks Accountant Desktop 2024 is a specialized version of QuickBooks Desktop used by accounting professionals. It includes:
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Advanced review tools
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Batch transaction reclassification
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Accountant’s Copy workflow
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Client data review and clean-up features
When payroll is connected correctly, accountants can review payroll entries, ensure compliance, and assist clients without disrupting payroll history.
Prerequisites Before You Connect Payroll Support
Many payroll issues come from skipped preparation. Before connecting anything, make sure the basics are in place.
1. Confirm You’re Using the Correct Version
You’ll need:
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QuickBooks Desktop 2024 (Canada version)
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QuickBooks Accountant Desktop 2024 (Canada)
U.S. versions do not support Canadian payroll.
2. Active QuickBooks Canada Payroll Subscription
Payroll support will not connect if the subscription is inactive or expired. You should confirm:
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Payroll status is Active
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The subscription matches the company file
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You are signed in with the correct Intuit account
3. Administrator Access
Only Admin users can enable or modify payroll settings. Log in as the Admin before continuing.
Step-by-Step: Connecting QuickBooks Canada Payroll in Desktop 2024
Step 1: Update QuickBooks Desktop 2024
Outdated software can cause payroll errors or missing features.
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Open QuickBooks Desktop
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Go to Help > Update QuickBooks Desktop
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Select Update Now
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Click Get Updates
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Restart QuickBooks after the update completes
This ensures payroll components align with current CRA requirements.
Step 2: Verify Payroll Subscription Status
To connect payroll support, confirm the subscription is recognized by QuickBooks.
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Go to Employees > My Payroll Service > Account/Billing Information
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Sign in to your Intuit account
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Confirm:
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Subscription is active
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Correct company name is listed
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Payroll type (Standard or Enhanced) is accurate
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If anything looks off, resolve it before moving forward.
Step 3: Enable Payroll Features in the Company File
If payroll hasn’t been fully activated yet:
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Go to Employees > Payroll Setup
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Follow the guided setup:
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Business information
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CRA payroll account numbers
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Pay schedules
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Employee setup
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This connects payroll support directly to the company file.
Connecting Payroll Access for Accountant Desktop 2024
Once payroll is active, the next step is ensuring the accountant can access and support payroll correctly.
Option 1: Use Accountant’s Copy (Recommended)
The Accountant’s Copy allows accountants to review payroll without interrupting ongoing work.
How to Create an Accountant’s Copy
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Go to File > Send Company File > Accountant’s Copy > Client Activities > Send to Accountant
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Choose Accountant’s Copy via File Transfer or Email
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Set a dividing date
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Save and send the file
Payroll data before the dividing date becomes available for review in Accountant Desktop 2024.
Option 2: Set Up Accountant as a Payroll-Enabled User
If your accountant needs ongoing access:
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Go to Company > Users > Set Up Users and Roles
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Add a new user
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Assign:
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Payroll access
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Sensitive financial permissions
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Share login credentials securely
This allows real-time payroll review and corrections.
Syncing Payroll Data with Accountant Desktop 2024
Once the accountant opens the file in QuickBooks Accountant Desktop 2024, payroll support is automatically recognized if:
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The payroll subscription is active
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The company file is Canadian
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Payroll features are enabled
Accountants can then:
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Review payroll journal entries
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Verify payroll liabilities
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Adjust incorrect postings
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Prepare year-end filings
No additional “connection” button is required—the integration is built into the software.
Common Payroll Support Tasks Accountants Can Assist With
Connecting payroll support isn’t just about access—it’s about collaboration.
Payroll Review and Cleanup
Accountants can:
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Identify incorrect wage expense postings
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Fix CPP/EI calculation issues
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Adjust taxable benefits
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Reconcile payroll liabilities
CRA Compliance Support
With payroll connected properly, accountants can help ensure:
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Remittances match CRA expectations
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PD7A reports are accurate
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Year-end forms are error-free
Year-End Payroll Filing
Accountant Desktop 2024 simplifies:
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T4 and T4A preparation
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ROE corrections
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Payroll reconciliation for financial statements
Troubleshooting Payroll Connection Issues
Even with the right setup, issues can occur. Here’s how to handle the most common ones.
Payroll Subscription Not Showing
Possible causes:
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Signed in with the wrong Intuit account
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Subscription linked to a different company file
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Inactive payroll service
Solution:
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Log out and back into the Intuit account
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Verify billing details
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Refresh payroll service under Employees > My Payroll Service
Accountant Can’t See Payroll Data
Possible causes:
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Dividing date set incorrectly
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Payroll permissions not enabled
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File opened in non-Canadian version
Solution:
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Recreate Accountant’s Copy
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Review user roles
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Confirm software version matches Canada region
Tax Table or CRA Errors
These usually happen when updates are missed.
Solution:
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Go to Employees > Get Payroll Updates
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Download the latest tax tables
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Restart QuickBooks
Best Practices for Long-Term Payroll Collaboration
Connecting payroll once is good—maintaining it properly is better.
Communicate Payroll Schedules
Let your accountant know:
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Pay dates
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Remittance frequency
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Year-end timelines
This avoids last-minute corrections.
Keep Regular Backups
Always back up the company file before:
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Payroll adjustments
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Accountant’s Copy creation
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Year-end changes
Payroll data is sensitive and difficult to recreate.
Schedule Periodic Payroll Reviews
Quarterly or semi-annual payroll reviews help catch:
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CRA discrepancies
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Employee setup errors
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Tax miscalculations
Why Proper Payroll Connection Matters
When QuickBooks Canada Payroll support is correctly connected to Accountant Desktop 2024, you gain:
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Fewer payroll errors
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Better CRA compliance
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Faster accountant support
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Cleaner financial statements
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Less stress during audits and year-end
It transforms payroll from a risk area into a reliable system.
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Contact QuickBooks payroll support phone number canada +1-833-654-8074
Final Thoughts
Connecting QuickBooks Canada Payroll support to Accountant Desktop 2024 isn’t just a technical step—it’s a strategic move. It ensures your payroll is accurate, compliant, and professionally reviewed, whether you’re running a small business or managing multiple clients.
By following the steps outlined above and maintaining open collaboration between business owners and accountants, payroll becomes simpler, safer, and far more efficient.
