QuickBooks Desktop 2022 Product Summary

September 28, 2021

11:51 AM

Intuit has just announced the release of the QuickBooks Desktop product line for 2022. Very soon, QuickBooks ProAdvisors (for Desktop), Enterprise Users, and QuickBooks Pro/Premier Plus subscribers will be notified concerning the availability of the initial release.

This year, one of the significant changes comes with the end of the software's stand-alone QuickBooks Pro and Premier versions. There will not be a version of QuickBooks that users can purchase outright any longer. Instead, all 2022 Pro and Premier versions will be Plus subscriptions.

Similar changes are being made to the QuickBooks for Mac product, with the 2022 version available only as a new Plus subscription. While you won't find QuickBooks for Mac Plus 2022 in this feature, Insightful Accountant will publish a stand-alone summary in the days to come.

QuickBooks prices are also changing for 2022. That information will be covered in a separate article, as will other details surrounding the changes mentioned above. Read about some of the price changes impacting QuickBooks Desktop ProAdvisors in our article here.

The Author has been privy to various pre-release versions of QuickBooks 2022 for months and has had multiple communications with Intuit personnel, including product managers and developers, so we can help you learn about the new products. This article provides a synopsis of the new features that Insightful Accountant will publish in a series of feature-specific articles. As in years past, one of those articles will be "My Favorite Newbies," telling you about the specific product changes I like best for 2022 as the finale to the series.

Please be sure to tune in for our September QB Talks webinar scheduled for 2 pm Eastern on October 6, 2021, when Laura Madeira joins me to bring you a special version of her "What's New in QuickBooks Desktop for 2022". Laura develops the new years' QuickBooks Desktop training content and exam materials for Intuit, so nobody is more knowledgeable about the new features in this year's products. You can Register Here for the Webinar.

What's New for 2022

QuickBooks Pro & Premier Desktop will be available as Subscription Only 'Plus' Versions

QuickBooks 2022 will mean significant changes for Pro and Premier users, transitioning those versions from availability as traditional retail products to subscription-only 'Plus' versions. In other words, the one-time purchase (retail) versions of Pro and Premier are being eliminated as of the 2022 product year.

By transitioning to an 'all subscription' version of these products, the 'Plus' versions allow for better release control and version maintenance, security patch updating, and the newest and best feature functionality. The 'Plus' versions also offer unlimited customer support and data recovery with online backup included in the subscription service (a $299 per year service if purchased separately).

Elimination of the retail versions means Intuit will ultimately support the most current product for all their customers rather than multiple years of products. As a result, they can deliver subscription-based resources to the 'Plus' products and customers for enhanced support and faster service.

Intuit has prepared a special video on upgrading from Pro/Premier (stand-alone) to the Plus versions which you will find here.

You can read more about 'Subscription-only' versions of QuickBooks Pro and Premier for 2022 in our article here.

Discover What's New with Discovery Hub

At the far right of the QuickBooks Desktop Menu bar you will find the Discovery Hub that gives you a preview of the new and improved features found in QuickBooks Desktop for 2022.

QuickBooks 2022 is Now 64-Bit

QuickBooks 2022 has enhanced computing power and can better utilize 64-bit processors found in most of today's computers, allowing them to access over four billion times the physical memory of legacy 32-bit processors. 64-bit means quicker completion of QuickBooks tasks, including running reports, creating transactions, and reconciling bank accounts. These revisions should be especially noticeable in larger Company files.

QuickBooks 2022 will require a 64-bit compatible Windows operating system to run, and anyone with an older 32-bit computer will NOT be able to use any version of QuickBooks 2022.

The upgrade of QuickBooks 2022 to 64-bit means that the application is compliant with modern operating system standards. Microsoft is discontinuing support for 32-bit apps on its operating systems and is pushing all developers to move to the 64-bit standard required for Windows 11 due out later this year. In addition, many 3^rd-party applications are in the process of sun-setting support for 32-bit applications. Instead, they will only offer versions of their software that work with 64-bit applications, so the transition of QuickBooks from 32-bit to 64-bit helps ensure compliance with the preferred developer infrastructure. You can read more about 64-bit QuickBooks 2022 in our article here.

This new functionality will be available to all QuickBooks Desktop 2022 users, including Pro Plus, Premier Plus, QuickBooks Desktop Accountant, and all QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions (v22.0) versions in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Upload Vendor Bills

Upload Vendor Bills (at the time of release, this feature may be called 'Upload Bills') allows you to upload vendor bills to QuickBooks Desktop using a mobile app. As a result, Bill entry becomes significantly easier and faster because QuickBooks users can capture an image of the vendor bill wherever they are and upload it.

QuickBooks will parse the relevant information (Vendor Name, Date, Amount) from the uploaded Bill, auto categorize, and match the bill to an existing Purchase Order or Vendor Bill (if available). The user can review and approve the uploaded bill information and auto-categorized matches before the uploaded information impacts the register. Uploaded images of the bills will be attached to the appropriate transaction.

See the new Upload Vendor Bills feature in this Intuit-produced video here.

Bill Pay powered by Melio

Bill Pay (powered by Melio) allows businesses to pay their Vendor Bills online directly from QuickBooks Desktop. This new feature lets users schedule vendor payments using their Debit card, a Credit card, or EFT from their bank and sends payment to their vendors. In addition, because they can choose how their Vendor receives payment, either as a deposit into their bank account or via a check, they can pay their vendors according to their preferences.

See Bill Pay (powered by Melio) in an Intuit-produced video here.

ACH and Debit card transactions are processed 'free'; if users choose a Credit card for payment, a 2.9% per transaction fee assessment will be made. Additional fees also apply when using optional 'Fast ACH' and 'Fast Check' expedited services.

This new functionality will be available to all QuickBooks Desktop 2022 users, including Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and all QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions (v22.0) versions in the United States.

Customize & Email Bill Payment Stubs

This two-fold feature for 2022 lets you customize your Bill Payment stubs so that they look as professional as your other forms. From a technical standpoint, customizing your Bill Payment stubs isn't much different than customizing any other template form (Invoices, Purchase Orders, etc.) in QuickBooks. However, the new functionality lets you email your Bill Payment stubs directly to the Vendor from within QuickBooks without printing, scanning, and attaching them to an email.

I really had never used Bill Payment stubs in my own practice, but it wasn't too long ago that I was made aware that many businesses send these stubs to their vendors to make sure that payments are correctly applied to open transactions. Having the ability to customize these stubs to provide more information will make a significant difference to many QuickBooks users. I think this one new feature is going to make a lot of users very happy.

Attach Documents using QuickBooks Desktop Mobile App

This feature is very similar to the new upload Bills feature, in my opinion. It uses the same 'mobile functionality' (either an Android or iOS app) but a different option within the QuickBooks Desktop Mobile App.

With this feature, users can scan and upload images of documents of almost any type (text, diagrams, copies of transactions, graphics, etc.) and then send them to the QuickBooks Attachment Center, where they appear on the Mobile tab. When users enter transactions in QuickBooks, they can easily access these documents and attach them if required.

See this feature in action in an Intuit-produced video here.

Select Multiple Email Contacts

Select Multiple Email Contacts (which may be called 'Choose multiple email customer contacts' at the time of release) allows users to select from multiple email addresses of a Customer, Vendor, or Employee. The ability to choose various emails prevents you from changing the primary email if you're contacting different people. In addition, QuickBooks allows you to select emails from a drop-down of all the emails associated with the recipients every time you email them. You can also add, edit or delete email addresses from their email forms with ease.

eCommerce Integration with Webgility

For QuickBooks Desktop users with an eCommerce presence, integration with Webgility means total management of all their eCommerce channels in one place, helping their business scale and offering a truly unified customer experience. Webgility integrates with major eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, payment processors, and shipping solutions.

Easily publish essential details about products from QuickBooks to each Webgility integrated sales channels (or vice versa) in minutes. Users will never oversell because Webgility makes it convenient to manage stock across multiple inventory sites and multiple sales channels with quantities and pricing updates at a moment's notice.

Webgility offers automated workflows to streamline operational efficiencies in purchasing, fulfillment, returns, refunds, and more. In addition, 'Webgility Intelligence' is a new AI-based analytics application that will give users even greater insight into their business performance and profitability when coupled with QuickBooks.

This new functionality will be available to all QuickBooks Desktop 2022 users, including Pro Plus, Premier Plus, and all QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions (v22.0) versions in the United States; however, the E-commerce integration requires a separate Webgility_[1] account subscription.

Intuit Account Requirements

Intuit began requiring the Company owner of all QuickBooks Desktop files to log in to their Intuit® account when opening the Company file using the Admin credential (login account and password). Implemented with maintenance release 5 of QuickBooks Desktop 2021, the requirement bolsters file security and improves connected services features. Intuit believes having an Intuit account provides a secure, single-source login for access to all of Intuit's robust offerings, including owned QuickBooks Desktop software and connected services.

All QuickBooks Desktop 2022 versions continue the enforcement of this requirement. To comply with this requirement, Company owners/administrators must log into each of their QuickBooks Company files with their Admin credentials. They must select Company from the QuickBooks menu bar, the choose Set Up Users and Passwords and then select Intuit Account User Management.

Users configured under the Intuit Account will have access to Integrated apps chosen by the Admin but will NOT have access to the QuickBooks Company file. Only users granted access and rights within the actual QuickBooks Company file have access to the Company file. Consult the user guide for your specific QuickBooks version to set up users and grant permissions within the Company file.

Enterprise Only Features

Unless otherwise noted, the following feature(s) are available only with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions (v22.0) in the United States.

Accounts Payable Approvals

The Accounts Payable Approvals feature (which may alternatively be called "Approvals for AP transactions" at the time of release) allows businesses to define custom approval workflows for their Accounts Payable when they use QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. With these workflows, users can configure a custom approval process for Vendor Bills, send these transactions to a designated employee for approval, and track the status of each transaction needing approval using a new dashboard for this purpose.

This feature eliminates the need to track Accounts Payable transaction approvals outside of QuickBooks where business owners or administrators may not have complete control over the purchases made by their businesses. It also provides a precise mechanism whereby the Accounts Payable process can be delegated and administered with proper 'internal controls' meeting appropriate accountability requirements. It eliminates paper forms, spreadsheets, and other records used to track A/P transactions outside of QuickBooks, so the entire approval process is part of the accounting record system and audit trail.

This new functionality is only available to U.S. users of 2022 versions of QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions (v22.0), including Enterprise-Accountant. You can see this new feature in action in an Intuit-produced video here.

QuickBooks Payments Features

Unless otherwise noted, the following feature(s) are available only with an active QuickBooks Payments account in the United States.

Instant Deposits

The Instant Deposits feature allows users with an active QuickBooks Payments_[2] account to deposit customer payments within minutes so they can better manage regular expenses like payroll, inventory purchases, utilities, and other routine costs. In addition, this feature eliminates the need to wait from one to three business days before they can access their funds.

With Instant Deposit, users can review deposit details such as the available balance, connected debit card, and related feeds and choose to get their funds immediately in a single step. Additionally, users can create a new account for Instant Deposit, making it easier than ever to auto reconcile any new deposit.

This feature rolled out during the Maintenance Release 5 update to QuickBooks Desktop 2021 editions, but we cover this type of feature in our new year summary since they weren't previously included in last year's summary. This functionality is available to all U.S. users of QuickBooks Desktop 2022 with an active QuickBooks Payments account, including Pro Plus, Premier Plus, QuickBooks Desktop Accountant, and all QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Solutions (v22.0) versions.

Send Payment Links

If you ever wanted to have a way to send a payment request to a customer and accept money without producing an invoice, then the new Send Payment Links feature is for you. This new feature lets you create and send a payment link (trackable within QuickBooks), accept payments or deposits even before you invoice your customer, and record payments as a credit for your customer.

QuickBooks Payroll Features

Unless otherwise noted, the following feature(s) are available only with an active QuickBooks (Assisted) Payroll subscription in the United States.

Next-Day Direct Deposit for Assisted Payroll

When you use QuickBooks Assisted Payroll_[4] , this feature gives you the option of Next-day Direct Deposit. That means you can pay your employees faster, process anytime before 5 pm (PST) the day before payday, and also keep your funds longer in your bank account.

Simplified Assisted Payroll Activation

When using QuickBooks Assisted Payroll_[5] , this feature provides a guided and streamlined setup of the payroll activation process that enables users to get to their first payroll faster. In addition, it incorporates easy-to-follow steps in the payroll activation process, allowing users to complete the setup themselves without relying on a customer support on-boarding agent.

Editor's Acknowledgements

A big "Thank You" to my good friend Laura Madeira who allowed me to cross-check this article with advance copies of her "What's New" document to ensure that we consistently provided accurate information regarding the 2022 release. Laura's article on QuickBooks Desktop 2022 appears in the Intuit Firm of the Future blog. So please be sure to give it a read.

I especially want to thank the following Intuit personnel for their dedication in providing information, briefings, and responding to my questions, as well as guiding the 2022 QuickBooks Desktop product developments: Nipun Bhatia, Varshita Gokari, Jacob Miller, Sahana MP, Subhanan Sahoo, Madhumita Tayade, Muthuraj Thangavel, and Raman Verma, along with the various members of Intuit's QuickBooks 2022 Alpha/Beta Testing Teams.

I also want to thank Miranda Henely, Head of the QuickBooks ProAdvisor® Program, and Intuit's Kim Amsbaugh for additional product information and assistance related to this content. There are entire teams of hundreds of Intuit personnel behind these individuals who work hard every day to make QuickBooks a reality, and we often forget to thank them. So, to all involved, "Thank You for making it happen!"

A general acknowledgment to Intuit for many of the graphic images used in this feature, some were used as provided from Intuit resources, Insightful Accountant adapted others to magnify or emphasize a specific QuickBooks feature. In addition, Laura Madeira provided some images, and the Author prepared additional graphic images used in this feature from pre-release copies of QuickBooks 2022.

^{Footnotes & Disclosures:}

_{[1] E-commerce integration requires an active current version subscription of QuickBooks Pro Plus, Premier Plus or Enterprise and a separate Webgility E-commerce account subscription. E-commerce integration subscription will be billed directly from Webgility.}

_{[2] QuickBooks Payments account subject to eligibility criteria, credit and application approval. See Important Info, Pricing, Acceptable Use Policy and Merchant Agreement. Feature access may require the latest QuickBooks’ update.}

_{[3] QuickBooks Payments account subject to eligibility criteria, credit and application approval. See Important Info, Pricing, Acceptable Use Policy and Merchant Agreement. Feature access may require the latest QuickBooks’ update.}

_{[4] Available only with a QuickBooks Desktop Assisted Payroll subscription. Payroll subscriptions are in addition to any standard QuickBooks subscription unless a special combination package is offered. Requires setup of direct deposit and bank verification. Next-day direct deposit may be subject to eligibility criteria. Deposit delays may vary because of third party delays, risk reviews, or issues beyond the control of Intuit. Direct deposit service is free for W-2 employees, an additional fee will apply for 1099 contractors paid via direct deposit.}

_{[5] Available with a QuickBooks Desktop Assisted Payroll subscription. Payroll subscriptions are in addition to any standard QuickBooks subscription unless a special combination package is offered.}

Comments (3)

Comment Feed

QB Pro communicating with QB Accountant Premier

i purchased the 2022 QB Pro version. My Accountant (because she is an accountant) purchased the QB Accountant's Premier 2022 version. Now, when my accountant send me her accountants changes, I am unable to incorporate her changes!!!! Why would her Accountants Premier version not be compatible with my Pro version???? Shouldn't an Accountants version be able to be compatible with their clients versions?????? We have being doing our accounting the same way for years! and until the 2022 version, we have never had a problem!!!!! Now my accountant can not do her work and send it to me!!!!! I am so very disappointed in you people for causing so many problems!!! First you are charging us triple what we used to pay!! and can not get the service we used to get!!!! not a good look QB!!

jakki more than 2 years ago

Company Deposits

I need to know how to put in company deposits. Like the start up deposit for the company and the deposits that the company made while ordering office supplies, parts, etc that happened before the company ever opened for business?

Laura more than 2 years ago

Try this article by Alicia to see how start-ups are done...

https://www.intuitiveaccountant.com/accounting-tech/general-ledger/setting-up-your-quickbooks-online%C2%AE-company-%E2%80%93-part-two/

insightfulaccountant.com more than 2 years ago