QuickBooks Payroll Error Guide
How to Fix QuickBooks Error PS060
Payroll day. You open QuickBooks to run paychecks or download the latest tax tables — and instead of a smooth update, you get: "Current Enhanced Payroll Service is Unavailable." Error code PS060. Your payroll is blocked until this is resolved.
At QuickFix Bookkeeping, payroll errors are among the most time-sensitive issues we handle — because a blocked payroll means employees do not get paid on time. Error PS060 has three distinct root causes, and most businesses are back running payroll within 20 minutes once they identify which one applies to them.
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Do This Before Anything Else — 30 Seconds
Are you in Multi-User Mode?
QuickBooks payroll updates cannot run in multi-user mode — this is a hard restriction, not a bug. If you are connected to a network with other users active, go to File → Switch to Single-User Mode, then attempt the payroll update again. In our experience at QuickFix Bookkeeping, this single step resolves roughly one in four PS060 errors immediately — before any other troubleshooting is needed.
The QuickFix Bookkeeping Distinction — Three Root Causes, Three Fix Paths
Root Cause A
Subscription or billing issue
Expired payroll subscription, incorrect credit card on file, or a failed auto-renewal. QuickBooks cannot verify the subscription with Intuit's servers and blocks payroll access. Most common cause.
Root Cause B
Connectivity or server issue
Firewall or antivirus blocking QuickBooks from reaching Intuit's payroll servers, Intuit server maintenance, or Internet Explorer cache/settings preventing the update from downloading.
Root Cause C
Program or file corruption
The CPS folder — which stores payroll update files — is damaged. Or QuickBooks has a duplicate installation, an outdated version (3+ years old), or corrupted program components that prevent payroll from functioning.
What Is QuickBooks Payroll Error PS060?
Error code
PS060
QuickBooks Desktop
Part of the PS-series payroll errors
What it means
PS060 belongs to the PS-series of QuickBooks payroll errors — all of which relate to payroll subscription or connectivity issues. When this error appears, QuickBooks cannot connect to or verify the Enhanced Payroll Service with Intuit's servers, so it blocks all payroll functions to prevent tax table mismatches or unauthorised payroll runs.
Your company data and existing payroll records are safe. PS060 is a service connection error — it does not corrupt or delete any financial data.
What PS060 Blocks — How It Shows Up
01
Payroll tax table updates fail
Clicking Get Payroll Updates produces the PS060 message. Tax tables cannot be downloaded, meaning payroll calculations may be based on outdated rates.
02
Paychecks cannot be created
Attempting to process payroll or create paychecks returns the PS060 error. The payroll run cannot proceed, directly delaying employee payments.
03
Payroll tax calculations blocked
QuickBooks cannot calculate payroll tax amounts without verifying the current subscription status — so tax line items may be unavailable or show as zero.
04
Auto-renew failure
The payroll subscription failed to auto-renew — typically because the credit card on file expired or was updated and the new details were not entered in QuickBooks. PS060 surfaces once the grace period ends.
How to Fix QuickBooks Error PS060 — Step by Step
After confirming you are in Single-User Mode, work through these in order. Most cases resolve by Method 2 or 3.
METHOD 1
Verify and Update Billing & Subscription Details
Root Cause A — most common
The most frequent cause of PS060 is a subscription verification failure — usually because the credit card used for the payroll subscription has expired and auto-renewal failed silently. QuickBooks does not always send a clear notification when this happens. Checking and updating billing details resolves the majority of PS060 cases immediately.
1
In QuickBooks Desktop, go to Employees → My Payroll Service → Account/Billing Information. Sign in with your Intuit credentials when prompted.
2
In the billing section, click Edit next to Payment Method. Verify the card number, expiry date, and billing address are current. Update any details that have changed and click Save and Close.
3
Confirm the payroll subscription itself is active — not expired or suspended. The subscription status should show as Active. If it shows Expired or Suspended, renew it before proceeding.
4
Go to Employees → Get Payroll Updates → Download Entire Update. Click Update and test whether PS060 clears.
QuickFix tip: QuickBooks gives a grace period of several days after a failed auto-renewal before locking payroll access. If PS060 appeared around the same date as the previous year's renewal, an expired card is almost certainly the cause — check the payment method first before running any diagnostic tools.
METHOD 2
Update QuickBooks and Download the Full Payroll Update
All root causes — always needed
QuickBooks Desktop versions more than 3 years old lose compatibility with Intuit's payroll servers — triggering PS060 even with a valid subscription. Updating QuickBooks and downloading the full payroll update resolves this and ensures the software can authenticate correctly with Intuit.
1
In QuickBooks, go to Help → Update QuickBooks Desktop → Update Now. Tick Reset Update then click Get Updates. Wait for all updates to download fully.
2
Restart QuickBooks. When prompted to install updates, click Yes. Let the installation complete and restart your computer.
3
Open QuickBooks. Press F2 to open the Product Information window and confirm you are now on the latest release. Then go to Employees → Get Payroll Updates → Download Entire Update.
4
Select Download Entire Update (not just the standard update) and click Update. Downloading the entire update replaces any partially downloaded or corrupted payroll files.
METHOD 3
Disable Antivirus and Configure Firewall Exceptions
Root Cause B — connectivity block
Antivirus software and Windows Firewall frequently block QuickBooks from connecting to Intuit's payroll authentication servers — producing PS060 even when the subscription is fully valid and the internet is working. Temporarily disabling antivirus and adding QuickBooks firewall exceptions resolves this class of PS060 permanently.
Important: Only disable antivirus temporarily while testing. Re-enable immediately after confirming payroll works, then add QuickBooks to the exclusion list rather than leaving it disabled.
1
Go to Windows Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Security → Virus & Threat Protection → Manage Settings. Toggle Real-time Protection to Off temporarily.
2
Restart QuickBooks in Single-User Mode and attempt the payroll update. If it succeeds — antivirus was the cause. Re-enable protection immediately and add QuickBooks as an exception in your antivirus settings.
3
For firewall: go to Windows Defender Firewall → Allow an app through firewall. Ensure QuickBooks Desktop and QBUpdate.exe are ticked for both Private and Public networks.
4
Also add exceptions for ports 80 and 443 outbound — these are the HTTP and HTTPS ports QuickBooks uses to reach Intuit's payroll servers. Contact your IT team if your firewall is managed centrally.
QuickFix tip: Businesses that recently updated their antivirus software or switched to a new security suite often see PS060 appear the same day. The new security software applies stricter default rules that block QuickBooks' outbound connections to Intuit. Adding QuickBooks to the exclusion list at the point of AV installation prevents this entirely.
METHOD 4
Clear Internet Explorer Cache and Reset Connection Settings
Root Cause B — cached data block
QuickBooks Desktop uses Internet Explorer's connection settings and certificate store to connect to Intuit's servers — even if you use a different browser for everything else. A corrupt IE cache or stale connection data can silently block payroll updates and produce PS060.
1
Open Internet Explorer (or search for it in Windows — it is still installed on most Windows systems). Go to Tools → Internet Options → General tab → Browsing History → Delete.
2
Tick Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and Website Files. Click Delete, then OK.
3
Also flush the DNS cache: press Windows + R, type cmd, run as Administrator, then type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter. Restart your computer.
4
Open QuickBooks in Single-User Mode and attempt the payroll update again.
METHOD 5
Rename the CPS Folder to Force a Fresh Payroll Download
Root Cause C — corrupted payroll files
The CPS folder stores QuickBooks payroll update files. When this folder is corrupted or contains partially downloaded files from a previous failed update, every subsequent payroll update attempt fails with PS060. Renaming the folder forces QuickBooks to rebuild it from scratch with a fresh download — the same safe rename technique used for .ND and .TLG files.
1
Close QuickBooks. Open File Explorer and navigate to:
C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks [Year]\Components\Payroll\CPS
2
Right-click the CPS folder and select Rename. Change the name to CPSOLD. Press Enter to confirm.
3
Reopen QuickBooks in Single-User Mode. Go to Employees → Get Payroll Updates → Download Entire Update. QuickBooks will create a new CPS folder and download a fresh, complete set of payroll files.
QuickFix tip: If a previous payroll update was interrupted — by a power cut, network dropout, or forced shutdown — the CPS folder will contain incomplete files that cannot be repaired by simply retrying the update. The rename is the only reliable way to get a clean slate. This fix resolves many persistent PS060 cases that other methods have not touched.
METHOD 6
Check Intuit Server Status and Wait If Required
Root Cause B — server-side issue
If all the above methods have not resolved PS060, the issue may be on Intuit's side — their payroll authentication servers may be down for scheduled maintenance or experiencing an outage. This is relatively rare but does occur, particularly during scheduled maintenance windows.
1
Check Intuit's status page: search Intuit status page and look for any active incidents affecting QuickBooks Desktop payroll services. If an incident is listed, the fix is simply to wait — typically resolved within a few hours.
2
Try the payroll update again after 1 to 2 hours and check the status page periodically.
3
If the status page shows no active incidents but PS060 persists across multiple attempts and after all previous methods, contact Intuit support directly — this level of persistence points to an account-specific subscription issue that requires them to investigate on the server side.
Quick Reference — Which Fix For Your Situation?
| Your situation |
Root cause |
Start with |
| In multi-user mode — happened just now |
Mode restriction |
Switch to Single-User Mode first |
| Payroll renewal date was recent, or card changed |
Billing / subscription (A) |
Method 1 — billing details |
| QuickBooks version is 3+ years old |
Outdated software |
Method 2 — full update |
| New antivirus or firewall recently installed |
Connectivity block (B) |
Method 3 — AV/firewall |
| Previous payroll update was interrupted |
Corrupted CPS folder (C) |
Method 5 — rename CPS |
| All methods tried — nothing worked |
Server outage or account issue |
Method 6 or call us |
Frequently Asked Questions About Error PS060
Will PS060 affect payroll records already processed?
No. Error PS060 blocks new payroll runs and tax table downloads — it does not alter, delete, or corrupt any payroll records that have already been processed and saved. All existing paychecks, tax payments, and payroll history remain intact. The error only affects your ability to run new payroll until it is resolved.
How is PS060 different from other PS-series errors like PS033 or PS077?
All PS-series errors relate to payroll service connectivity, but each has a different specific cause. PS033 typically relates to payroll update file validation failures. PS077 is a subscription verification error tied specifically to the service key. PS060 is specifically the "Enhanced Payroll Service Unavailable" error — most commonly caused by billing issues or server connectivity problems. The fixes for PS033 and PS077 overlap significantly with PS060 but have some specific additional steps. If PS060 fixes do not work, check our PS033 and PS077 guides as well.
Can I run payroll manually while PS060 is active?
In most cases no — QuickBooks requires a valid payroll subscription connection to calculate tax withholdings and process paychecks. However, if the error is caused by a server outage rather than a subscription problem, you may be able to run payroll using the most recently downloaded tax tables while waiting for the server to recover. Do not delay resolution beyond one payroll cycle — running payroll on stale tax tables risks incorrect tax calculations which creates compliance issues.
How do I prevent PS060 from blocking payroll in the future?
Three habits eliminate most recurring PS060 situations. First, keep a calendar reminder for your payroll subscription renewal date and verify the payment method on file is current two weeks before renewal — do not rely on auto-renewal alone. Second, add QuickBooks to your antivirus exclusion list at the point of any security software change, not after PS060 appears. Third, keep QuickBooks updated to within the last two major releases — versions more than 3 years old progressively lose compatibility with Intuit's payroll servers. At QuickFix Bookkeeping we flag subscription renewal dates as part of ongoing client bookkeeping maintenance so payroll is never blocked by a lapsed renewal.
Related QuickBooks Payroll Errors
Payroll Blocked by PS060?
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Certified Intuit ProAdvisors · QuickBooks Payroll Specialists
Payroll errors are time-critical. At QuickFix Bookkeeping, we treat PS060 as a priority issue — diagnosing the exact cause and restoring payroll access in a single session. We handle payroll errors for businesses across the US every week, and we understand the urgency of getting paychecks out on time.
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