In September 2023, we launched Intuit QuickBooks Bill Pay**, a fully-integrated AP solution with QuickBooks Online to help streamline workflows when creating and paying bills. QuickBooks Bill Pay offers expert support and flexible pricing plans, including a Bill Pay Basic plan with 5 free standard ACH transactions per month** and no additional subscription fee (additional ACH payments: $0.50/transaction). You can also choose from additional paid plans to get more included standard ACH transactions per month, custom bill approval workflows, and predefined roles and permissions to empower your team.** Learn more about features, pricing, and benefits of QuickBooks Bill Pay here.
In April 2024, we launched the QuickBooks Bill Pay experience for accountants to support their accountant-billed clients’ AP needs and and in May 2024, enable accountants’ own firm to use QuickBooks Bill Pay Elite within their QuickBooks Online Accountant subscription. Learn more about features, available ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing, and benefits of QuickBook Bill Pay in QBOA here.
Bill Pay powered by Melio** is a legacy bill payment tool developed to integrate with QuickBooks Online. Bill Pay powered by Melio in QuickBooks Online has been discontinued for all users as of May 21, 2024. Note: if you or your clients have a personal Melio account—a third-party app, known as Melio Purple by some users—that account will not be impacted.
As part of this discontinuation of Bill Pay powered by Melio in QuickBooks Online, we have migrated over your vendor information (such as business name, address, and payment wallet) as well as your payment history into your or your client’s QuickBooks account. For more information on where to locate this data in QuickBooks, click here and look under “What information from Melio did you move over to QuickBooks and where do I find it.”
Important: If you have any recurring or future payments scheduled in Bill Pay powered by Melio, Melio will continue to pay them through June 18, 2024, after which they will automatically be canceled. You can choose to cancel the scheduled payments for your firm or your client within QuickBooks. If you or your client choose to sign up for QuickBooks Bill Pay on or after May 21, 2024, you can create new bills to be paid in QuickBooks Bill Pay. For steps on how to manually cancel these future payments, please click here and look under “What happens to any future/recurring payments scheduled to be executed/paid after May 21,2024.”
If you have any questions, please click here for frequently asked questions about the discontinuation of Bill Pay powered by Melio in QuickBooks Online.
Below are the steps to take based on how you were using Bill Pay Powered by Melio:
1. If you were using Bill Pay powered by Melio for your accounting firm in QuickBooks Online Accountant, QuickBooks Bill Pay Elite is now available for your own firm usage in QuickBooks Online Accountant. As a Pro-Advisor, you are eligible for a $0 subscription to Bill Pay Elite along with 15% off transaction fees for Faster ACH and check payments (ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing).* With Bill Pay Elite for own firm usage, you can enjoy time-saving automations, from tracking and paying bills, to gathering business insights, all in QuickBooks Online Accountant. Plus with Bill Pay Elite, you will enjoy additional features such as no-fee ACH payments, unlimited 1099 filings, and custom roles and permissions to empower your team.**
For more information or to sign up for QuickBooks Bill Pay Elite for your own firm’s usage in QuickBooks Online Accountant,click here.
2. If you pay for your client’s QuickBooks Online subscription, you can help your client begin the application process for QuickBooks Bill Pay in QuickBooks Online Accountant.
You now have the option to add QuickBooks Bill Pay for your accountant-billed clients in QuickBooks Online Accountant to streamline how you and your clients pay bills, all in one place. Your clients will need to complete a short application process to subscribe to QuickBooks Bill Pay. With QuickBooks Bill Pay you can customize your client’s AP services with tools, features, and controls designed to meet their unique business needs. Simply go to theSubscription & Billing page within QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA), and select Add Bill Pay under Client Actions to start the subscription process. Plus, as a ProAdvisor, you will enjoy 30% off the subscription costs and 15% off transaction fees (ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing).*
To learn more about how to sign up for QuickBooks Bill Pay via QuickBooks Online Accountant click here.
3. If your client pays for their own QuickBooks Online subscription, they can apply for QuickBooks Bill Pay on their own, but you can also recommend a Bill Pay plan to them.
If you have a direct-billed client (we bill your client for their QuickBooks Online subscription), your client is not eligible for ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing. However, you can recommend any available Bill Pay plan in QuickBooks Online Accountant to your client. Your client will need to sign up themselves in QuickBooks Online.
To recommend a plan to your client, log into QuickBooks Online Accountant and follow the steps below:
Now you can assign firm users role-based access and permissions in QuickBooks Online Accountant to your clients’ books to keep the right information and functionality in the right hands. Easily separate roles and delegate tasks across QuickBooks, including in QuickBooks Bill Pay, so you can confidently manage services like bill pay, accounts payable, accounts receivable and more.
First, you will select the pre-defined or customized role for access to the firm. Next, you’ll assign predefined roles for client access. Relevant roles for QuickBooks Bill Pay include Bill Payer, Bill Approver, and Bill Clerk. To save you time, you can bulk assign a firm user the same role across many clients or assign the same firm user different roles for different clients. Learn more from this In The Know Episode: Role Based Access and Controls for Clients or this How To Video.
Have additional questions, you can contact our support team by going to the Help Menu in QuickBooks Online Accountants, or call us at 1-888-333-3451.
FOR QUICKBOOKS ONLINE ACCOUNTANT CUSTOMERS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE 30% OFF QUICKBOOKS BILL PAY SUBSCRIPTION WITH PROADVISOR PREFERRED PRICING – PROADVISOR DISCOUNT OFFER
Eligibility: This offer is eligible to accounting firms who register or have registered for QuickBooks Online Accountant (“QBOA”) and use the ProAdvisor Discount option (“QBOA Customer”) to subscribe to QuickBooks Bill Pay (“Bill Pay”) for the QBOA Customer’s client. The ProAdvisor Discount invoicing option means that the QBOA Customer agrees to pay for Bill Pay subscription fees.
Discount and list price subject to change at any time at Intuit’s sole discretion. All prices are quoted without sales tax.
Offer Terms: To be eligible, Bill Pay subscriptions must be entered through the ProAdvisor Discount. The discount is valid only for the named individual or company that registered for the Bill Pay subscription and cannot be transferred to another client, individual, or company. Cannot be combined with any other Intuit offer. Offer valid for a limited time only, only in the U.S., and is non-transferable. Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.
Billing: The QBOA Customers account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis until the Bill Pay subscription is transferred or canceled. The first billing date will be prorated and deferred to the next existing QBOA billing date (“Existing Billing Date”), unless Bill Pay enrollment is on the same date as the Existing Billing Date, in which case the full monthly cost will be charged upon enrollment. To remove a Bill Pay subscription from the ProAdvisor Discount and transfer billing to a client, go to Account & Settings > Billing & Subscription in QBOA, select the client, and select “Transfer billing to client” for QuickBooks Bill Pay. Transfer of the billing for the subscription will become effective at the end of the monthly billing period and then the client will be responsible for the then-current list price of all future monthly subscription fees. You will not receive a prorated refund. Transfer of the billing for the subscription will not terminate the QBOA Customer’s user rights. For more information on managing user rights or deleting clients, please see here.
FOR QUICKBOOKS ONLINE ACCOUNTANT CUSTOMERS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE QUICKBOOKS ELITE BILL PAY SUBSCRIPTION WITH PROADVISOR PREFERRED PRICING – PROADVISOR DISCOUNT OFFER
Eligibility: This offer is eligible to accounting firms who register or have registered for QuickBooks Online Accountant (“QBOA”) and use the ProAdvisor Discount option (“QBOA Customer”) to subscribe to QuickBooks Bill Pay (“Bill Pay”) for the QBOA Customer’s firm. The ProAdvisor Discount invoicing option means that the QBOA Customer agrees to pay for Bill Pay subscription fees.
Discount and list price subject to change at any time at Intuit’s sole discretion. All prices are quoted without sales tax.
Offer Terms: To be eligible, Bill Pay subscriptions must be entered through the ProAdvisor Discount. The discount is valid only for the named individual or company that registered for the Bill Pay subscription and cannot be transferred to another client, individual, or company. Cannot be combined with any other Intuit offer. Offer valid for a limited time only, only in the U.S., and is non-transferable. Terms, conditions, pricing, special features, and service and support options subject to change without notice.
Billing: The QBOA Customers account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis until the Bill Pay subscription is canceled. The first billing date will be prorated and deferred to the next existing QBOA billing date (“Existing Billing Date”), unless Bill Pay enrollment is on the same date as the Existing Billing Date, in which case the full monthly cost will be charged upon enrollment. To cancel your Bill Pay subscription, go to Account & Settings > Billing & Subscription in QBOA, and select “Cancel” for QuickBooks Bill Pay. Cancellation will become effective at the end of the monthly billing period. You will not receive a prorated refund.
QuickBooks Bill Pay product features and availability subject to change. QuickBooks Bill Pay account subject to eligibility criteria, credit, and application approval. Subscription to QuickBooks Online Accountant required. Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. For more information about Intuit Payments money transmission licenses, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.
Bill Pay services powered by Melio with funds held by Evolve Bank & Trust or J.P. Morgan (members of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve). Melio is a registered trademark of Melio LTD Corporation.
Standard ACH: Transaction fees apply for ACH payments over the monthly allotted amount included in QuickBooks Bill Pay Basic and Premium plans. Limits may apply on total number and amount of payments.
User Roles and Approval Workflows: Only available in QuickBooks Bill Pay Elite. Not available for QuickBooks Online Simple Start customers.
Unlimited 1099 E-File: Create and e-file unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms in QuickBooks Online. 1099 forms are e-filed only for the current filing year and for payments recorded in QuickBooks Online to your vendors or contractors. Excludes state filings; please check with your state agency on any state filing requirements. If you have the QuickBooks Bill Pay Basic plan, 1099 e-filing services will be charged at the standard 1099 E-File Service pricing.ShareShare
Managing and paying bills is a crucial but often tedious task for businesses With Quickbooks Online Bill Pay, you can simplify and automate bill payments right within your Quickbooks account. Quickbooks offers flexible Bill Pay pricing plans to suit businesses of all sizes
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide an in-depth look at Quickbooks Bill Pay costs for individual users and accountants.
Overview of Quickbooks Bill Pay
Quickbooks Bill Pay allows you to track vendor bills, schedule payments, and pay bills directly within Quickbooks Online. Key features include:
- Automated bill creation from vendor invoices
- Payment scheduling and reminders
- Digital payment processing via ACH or check
- Unlimited users based on Quickbooks Online plan
- Roles and permissions controls
- 1099 tax form management and e-filing
Quickbooks Bill Pay is available as an add-on service for all Quickbooks Online subscriptions. It comes in three pricing plans – Basic, Premium and Elite.
Quickbooks Bill Pay Pricing for Users
For regular Quickbooks Online users, here are the current Bill Pay monthly prices:
- Basic – $0/month
- Premium – $15/month
- Elite – $90/month
These are the standalone prices if you subscribe directly through Quickbooks. The table below summarizes what’s included in each Bill Pay plan:
| Plan | ACH Payments | Additional Users | Other Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 5 free/month | Based on QBO plan | Automated Bill Creation |
| Premium | 40 free/month | Based on QBO plan | Automated Bill Creation, Unlimited 1099 E-filing |
| Elite | Unlimited | Based on QBO plan | Automated Bill Creation, Unlimited 1099 E-filing, Roles & Permissions, Bill Approval Workflows |
As you can see, the Basic plan is suitable for occasionally paying a few bills each month. The Premium plan fits users with more frequent vendor payments. Elite offers advanced features for larger businesses.
Payment Processing Fees
While the monthly fee covers a certain number of ACH payments, additional charges apply for extra transactions:
- ACH: $0.50 per payment after monthly limit
- Check: $1.50 per check payment
- Faster ACH: $10 per payment
Payment limits may also apply based on amount and volume of payments.
Accountant Discounts on Quickbooks Bill Pay
As a Quickbooks ProAdvisor, you can get substantial discounts on Bill Pay plans for your clients through ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing.
The table below shows current discounted monthly rates for accountants adding Bill Pay to client subscriptions:
| Plan | Regular Rate | ProAdvisor Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $0 | $0 |
| Premium | $15 | $5 |
| Elite | $90 | $18 |
That’s up to 80% off regular pricing! This discount applies when you pay for your client’s Quickbooks Online subscription and add Bill Pay.
If clients pay for their own Quickbooks subscription, they won’t qualify for discounted Bill Pay pricing.
How User and Accountant Pricing Works
To recap the two Quickbooks Bill Pay pricing scenarios:
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Users paying directly – Regular monthly plan rates apply based on subscription tier.
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Accountant-managed subscriptions – Discounted ProAdvisor pricing if accountant bills client for Quickbooks and Bill Pay.
Make sure you and your clients take advantage of ProAdvisor discounts for the biggest savings on Quickbooks Bill Pay!
Factors That Determine Quickbooks Bill Pay Costs
The main factors that influence your total Bill Pay costs include:
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Bill Payment Volume – More bills equals higher monthly fees for extra transactions.
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Payment Methods – Check payments cost more than ACH per bill.
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User Access – Multiple users boosts costs for Premium or Elite plans.
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Accountant Discounts – ProAdvisor pricing reduces user fees significantly.
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Recurring vs One-Time Bills – Auto-pay for repeating bills is more cost-effective.
Take these factors into account when selecting the right Bill Pay plan for your or your client’s needs.
Strategies to Minimize Quickbooks Bill Pay Expenses
Here are some tips to control your Bill Pay costs:
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Choose the right plan based on payment volume. Don’t overpay for unused transactions.
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Use ACH instead of checks to avoid per-payment check fees.
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Schedule recurring auto-payments for repeat bills.
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Limit user seats to essential personnel only.
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Opt for annual subscription billing to reduce average monthly fees.
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Take advantage of ProAdvisor discounts for major savings.
Should You Pay Annually or Monthly for Bill Pay?
Quickbooks Bill Pay plans are billed on a monthly basis by default. However, you can opt for annual billing to reduce average monthly costs.
The table below shows the effective monthly rates with annual subscription:
| Plan | Regular Monthly | Annual Price | Effective Monthly (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | $15 | $180 | $15 |
| Elite | $90 | $1080 | $90 |
As you can see, annual billing doesn’t offer any cost savings for Bill Pay plans. You’ll pay the same effective monthly rate.
Monthly subscriptions offer more flexibility if your payment volume fluctuates. But if your needs are consistent, annual billing simplifies payments with a single annual charge.
How Many Bills Can You Pay with Basic Plan?
The Quickbooks Bill Pay Basic plan includes 5 free ACH payments per month. This is best suited for users who only have a few bills to pay each month.
You’ll incur additional fees if you exceed 5 ACH transactions:
- 6-10 ACH bills – $3 extra
- 11-15 ACH bills – $5 extra
- 16-20 ACH bills – $8 extra
Based on these overage charges, you can expect to pay an average of $1 for each payment after the 5 bill limit.
If you only occasionally go over 5 bills, Basic could still be cheapest. But for frequent payments, Premium is a better value.
Quickbooks Bill Pay Cost for Checks instead of ACH
With all Quickbooks Bill Pay plans, you can also pay bills via paper checks sent to vendors. However, checks cost more than ACH payments:
- ACH: $0.50 per extra payment (after monthly limit)
- Check: $1.50 per check payment
So if you need to pay 10 vendor bills in a month, here are the costs with different methods:
| Payment Method | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| 10 ACH Payments | $5 (Premium plan) |
| 10 Check Payments | $15 |
As you can see, checks will add $1 per payment compared to ACH. Run the numbers based on your payment methods to see if checks warrants a higher plan.
Do You Need Bill Pay with Quickbooks Online Advanced?
Quickbooks Online Advanced is the top-tier Quickbooks subscription that already includes Accounts Payable and bill management features. But you still need Bill Pay to actually pay bills electronically through Quickbooks.
So even with Advanced, Bill Pay provides added conveniences:
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Automated digital bill payment
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Unlimited ACH transactions (with Elite plan)
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Unlimited 1099 e-filing
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Centralized bill/payment reporting
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Additional user seats
If you heavily use Accounts Payable in Advanced, Bill Pay is worth the extra cost for seamless electronic bill payment.
Quickbooks Bill Pay Cost – The Bottom Line
ProAdvisor discounts offer major savings for accountants to equip clients with Bill Pay capabilities. Consider your unique payment frequency, methods, and user needs to select the most economical Bill Pay plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bill Pay come free with QuickBooks Online?
No, Bill Pay is a paid add-on service for Quickbooks Online. The base QBO subscription does not include automated bill payment capabilities.
What happens when I exceed my ACH limit?
You will be charged per-transaction overage fees of $0.50 for each additional ACH payment over the monthly limit for your Bill Pay plan.
Can I switch plans anytime?
Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade your Quickbooks Bill Pay plan at any time. Your monthly or annual costs will be adjusted accordingly.
How long does Direct Pay last for?
Once enabled, Direct Pay bill payment capabilities will remain active as long as you maintain an active Bill Pay subscription. It does not expire.
Does Bill Pay integrate with QuickBooks Payments?
Yes, you can use QuickBooks Payments as the payment processing service behind Bill Pay. This enables seamless AC
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