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QuickBooks Payroll FAQs

How Do I Update My Payroll Tax Tables or Resolve Errors That Occurred in the Update Process?

The following troubleshooting tips can guide you through the update process and the resolution of errors that can occur.

Note: The following information refers to online updates. If you receive your updates by CD, see the article How Do I Install a Payroll Update from a Disk?

Updating your payroll

As long as your subscription to QuickBooks Payroll is active and you have not disabled automatic updates, QuickBooks 2004 and 2005 will automatically update your payroll tax table. Older QuickBooks versions will prompt you to update when you begin payroll. However, if you want to double-check to make sure you have the latest payroll update, follow these instructions.

For QuickBooks 2005 customers

To update your payroll:
  1. From the QuickBooks Employees menu, choose Get Updates, and then choose Get Payroll Updates.
  2. You must have an active subscription in order to update your payroll. Check the following:
  3. You have two download options:
    • Download only changes and additions to currently installed payroll files. This option downloads only new payroll information and is quickest. Choose this option for most updates.
    • Download entire payroll update. This option downloads the entire update and will take longer to receive. Use this option if you have experienced problems updating your payroll.
  4. Click the Update button.
When the download completes, you will receive a message confirming that the update was successful. If you experience problems updating your payroll and downloading the entire update is not successful, you may want to check your Internet connection setup.

For QuickBooks 2004 and 2003 customers

To update your payroll:
  1. From the QuickBooks Employees menu, choose Get Updates, and then choose Get Payroll Updates.
  2. You must have an active subscription in order to update your payroll. Check the following:
  3. You have two download options:
    • Download only changes and additions to currently installed payroll files. This option downloads only new payroll information and is quickest. Choose this option for most updates.
    • Download entire payroll update. This option downloads the entire update and will take longer to receive. Use this option if you have experienced problems updating your payroll.
  4. Click the Update button.
When the download completes, you will receive a message confirming that the update was successful. If you experience problems updating your payroll and downloading the entire update is not successful, you may want to check your Internet connection setup.

For QuickBooks 2002 customers

To update your payroll:
  1. From the QuickBooks Employees menu, choose Get Payroll Updates.
  2. You have two download options:
    • Download only changes and additions to currently installed payroll files. This option downloads only new payroll information and is quickest. Choose this option for most updates.
    • Download entire payroll update. This option downloads the entire update and will take longer to receive. Use this option if you have experienced problems updating your payroll.
  3. Click the Update button.
When the download completes, you will receive a message confirming that the update was successful. If you experience problems updating your payroll, and downloading the entire update is not successful, you may want to check your Internet connection setup.

Checking whether your subscription is active

Problems encountered when attempting to update to the latest payroll tax table can often be attributed to an inactive QuickBooks Payroll service subscription. QuickBooks Payroll will automatically bill you each year for a renewal of your subscription. However, if your credit card on file is cancelled or expires, your subscription may become inactive.

If you experience difficulties updating to the latest tax table and think it might be related to an inactive subscription, try these steps:
  1. From the QuickBooks Employees menu, choose Get Updates, and then choose Get Payroll Updates.
  2. In the QuickBooks Payroll Information window, check your Subscription Status field and refer to the table below for more information on how to proceed:

    Subscription Status field Your situation How to proceed
    Trial or Active You already have a current subscription to the QuickBooks Do-It-Yourself Payroll service. Make sure that your subscription number (which identifies you as a subscriber and entitles you to payroll updates) also appears in this window. Proceed to step 3.
    No subscription number and... ...and you have subscribed... ...please call Intuit Payroll Services to obtain this number. Proceed to step 3.
    No subscription number and... ...and you have not subscribed... ...please go to Signing up for Intuit Payroll Services, then proceed to step 3.
    A subscription number   Proceed to step 3.
    Inactive Your subscription has expired. Click Account Info and complete the wizard. Be sure to update your billing information. Proceed to step 3.
    Not Subscribed You have not yet subscribed to the QuickBooks Do-It-Yourself Payroll service. Click Subscribe and complete the wizard. Proceed to step 3.


  3. Try to update your tax tables again. If you are still not able to update, continue to step 4.
  4. Check your QuickBooks Internet connection setup:
    1. From the QuickBooks Help menu, choose Internet Connection Setup.
    2. Select Use my computer's Internet connection settings, click Next, and then click Done.
Try downloading your payroll update again. If you continue to experience problems downloading your tax table update, please call Intuit Payroll Services for help.

Internet connectivity issues

QuickBooks update errors and payroll download errors can occur for various reasons related to server issues and Internet connectivity issues. For example, you may need to adjust your Internet settings, the QuickBooks Internet configuration settings, or your security hardware or software settings. If you encountered an error while attempting to update QuickBooks or perform a download in QuickBooks, follow these general troubleshooting suggestions.

For QuickBooks 2005, 2004, and 2003 customers

Important: Because of the complexity and variety of available systems and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Intuit is unable to provide specific directions for a particular ISP. If you need further assistance, please contact your system or network administrator (if you have one), the vendor from whom you purchased security hardware or software, your ISP, or a local computer consultant.
  1. Try updating or downloading again after a short wait. Temporary connectivity errors are often resolved quickly by service providers.
  2. Close QuickBooks, restart your computer, and then try updating or downloading again.
  3. If you have made multiple unsuccessful attempts, review the remaining steps before trying to download again.
  4. Check your Internet connection:
    1. From Microsoft® Internet Explorer (IE), try to connect to other sites on the Internet.
    2. If you can connect to the Internet from IE, try updating and downloading again.
  5. If you cannot connect to the Internet from IE, try the following:
    • If using a dial-up connection, verify that the minimum connection speed is 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps).
    • If using America Online (AOL), log on to AOL with the master login name, if possible, and make sure that the Parental Controls settings are not enabled. For more information, see AOL's online support.
  6. Check your QuickBooks Internet connection settings:
    1. From the QuickBooks Help menu, choose Internet Connection Setup.
    2. In general, we recommend that you select Use my computer's Internet connection settings to establish a connection when this application accesses the Internet so that QuickBooks and IE use the same settings.
    3. Click Next and then click Done.
    4. Try updating and downloading again.
  7. If you cannot update or download, check your connection from QuickBooks to the Internet:
    1. From the QuickBooks Company menu, choose Company Navigator.
    2. Click any button or link where you see a lightning bolt (for example, Create/Share Database). If QuickBooks is connecting to the Internet, you should be able to view the appropriate page in QuickBooks.
    3. If you cannot connect from QuickBooks to the Internet, you may need to contact your ISP, your system or network administrator (if you have one), or a local computer consultant for further assistance.
    4. If you can connect from QuickBooks to the Internet, try updating and downloading again.
  8. If you cannot update or download, check your Internet security settings. Internet security software or hardware on your system (or network) must be correctly configured to allow QuickBooks to update. Refer to the documentation that came with the security hardware or software. Make sure:
    1. Port 80 (for HTTP) and port 443 (for HTTPS) are enabled.
    2. The following two files are configured to allow them to connect to the Internet and to download updates:
      • The QuickBooks executable file (Qbw32.exe).
      • The QuickBooks Delivery Agent module file (qbupdate.exe).
      • Try updating and downloading again.
    3. If you are still unable to update or download after performing all of the previous steps, or if you have questions about any of the information on this page, contact QuickBooks Technical Support.
For QuickBooks 2002 customers
  1. Try updating or downloading again later. The problem may simply be caused by an intermittent error and may resolve itself when you try again.
  2. Make sure your Internet connection is working properly outside of QuickBooks:
    1. Use Microsoft® Internet Explorer to check whether you can view other sites on the Internet.
      • If you are using a dial-up connection, the minimum connection speed should be 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps).
      • If you are using America Online®, make sure Parental Controls are not enabled. If possible, sign on with the master login name. For more information, see America Online's online support.
    2. If you cannot connect to the Internet outside of QuickBooks, there may be a network problem or a problem with your Internet configuration. Because of the complexity of various Internet configurations and the number of available Internet service providers (ISPs), we are unable to provide support for specific network or Internet configuration issues. If you need further assistance with these, check with your ISP, your network administrator (if you have one), or a local computer consultant.
  3. Make sure you can connect to the Internet from within QuickBooks:
    1. Check your QuickBooks Internet connection settings. From the QuickBooks Help menu, choose Internet Connection Setup. Check the settings to make sure they are appropriate for your system and network. In general, we recommend that you select Use my computer's Internet connection settings so that QuickBooks and Internet Explorer use the same settings. Click Next and then click Done. This choice may not be appropriate for all systems and networks, and you may need to contact your ISP, your network administrator (if you have one), a computer consultant, or QuickBooks Technical Support for further assistance.
    2. Open the QuickBooks Company Navigator. (From the QuickBooks Company menu, choose Company Navigator.)
    3. Click the Create/Share Database icon (or any other button or link where you see a lightning bolt). If QuickBooks is connecting properly, you should be able to view the appropriate site on the Internet. If this step is successful, try updating or downloading again.
  4. If you can connect to the Internet both outside of QuickBooks and from within QuickBooks, but you still cannot complete the update or download, you may need to check the configuration of security hardware or software on your computer system or network that controls how your computer connects to the Internet. Internet security software or hardware on your system (or network) must be correctly configured to allow QuickBooks to update. If possible, you should refer to the documentation that came with the security hardware or software. Make sure that:
    1. Port 80 (for HTTP) and port 443 (for HTTPS) are enabled.
    2. The following two files are allowed to connect to the Internet and download updates:
      1. The QuickBooks executable file (Qbw32.exe).
      2. The QuickBooks Delivery Agent module file (Qbdagent2002.exe).
    3. If you need help, or you are not sure whether Internet security hardware or software is present on your system or your network, contact your system or network administrator (if you have one), the vendor from whom you purchased the hardware or software, or a local computer consultant.
  5. If the previous steps are unsuccessful, close QuickBooks and restart your computer, and then try updating or downloading again.
  6. If you have tried the steps above and are still unable to complete the update, or if you have questions about any of the information on this page, contact QuickBooks Technical Support.
Important Note: Because of the complexity and variety of available systems and software, Intuit is unable to provide specific directions for a particular computer system or environment. If you need further assistance, please contact your system or network administrator (if you have one), the vendor from whom you purchased security hardware or software, your ISP, or a local computer consultant.



The information contained in the QuickBooks Payroll Bulletin is meant to provide general information about the payroll process and is not intended to provide tax or legal advice. Always consult your tax professional when preparing tax documents.
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