QuickBooks Payments Held: Why Funds Are Withheld, How Long Holds Last, and How to Get Them Released
When a payment shows "Withheld" it means QuickBooks Payments is reviewing that transaction before releasing the money to your bank account. This doesn't mean something's wrong. It's a routine check to protect you, your customer, and Intuit. Most reviews wrap up within 2 business days, and you'll get an email telling you exactly what to do if we need anything else from you.
Why Are My QuickBooks Payments Held?
QuickBooks Payments periodically reviews transactions before depositing them into your bank account. This is a safety measure built into your merchant service agreement, not a sign that you did anything wrong.
Step-by-step: Checking if a payment is on hold
- Sign in to the Merchant Service Center.
- Select Transactions.
- Look at the Method column. If it says Withheld, that payment is on hold and under review.
If you process through QuickBooks Online, you can check the same thing without leaving QuickBooks:
- Go to All apps > Sales & Get Paid > QuickBooks payouts.
- Select the deposit you want to review.
- Any payment with an issue shows as delayed or on hold in the list.
If there's a problem with a specific payment, QuickBooks sends an email to the contact address on file for your QuickBooks Payments account. If you don't see it, check your spam folder and email settings before assuming nothing was sent.
How Long Do Payment Holds Last in QuickBooks?
How long a hold lasts depends on why the payment was flagged and how quickly you respond, but most standard reviews follow a predictable timeline.
| Situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Standard review of a flagged transaction | Usually completed within 2 business days of receiving what is needed |
| First deposits on a brand-new QuickBooks Payments account | Up to 5 business days while your account finishes setup |
| Standard deposit schedule (non-held payments) | 2 business days if processed before 3 PM PT; next business day if processed after 3 PM PT |
| Next-day deposit schedule | Deposited the next business day, or within 2 business days if processed after 3 PM PT |
| American Express ESA accounts | Follows American Express's own deposit schedule, not QuickBooks' standard timing |
A hold and a normal deposit delay aren't the same thing. A delay just means your payment hasn't reached its regular deposit day yet. A hold means QuickBooks flagged the transaction for review and needs to confirm everything before releasing it.
Note that US federal holidays don't count as business days for any of these timelines, and some banks observe their own holidays on top of that.
How Do You Get a Held Payment Released?
Getting a hold released comes down to responding to what QuickBooks asks for, as quickly as you can.
Step-by-step: Resolving a hold
- Open the email QuickBooks sent about the hold. It'll spell out exactly what's needed to finish the review.
- Follow the steps in that email right away. The sooner you respond, the sooner the review can wrap up.
- Gather any documents requested. Common examples include:
- A copy of the original invoice you sent your customer.
- Bank statements covering the last 6 months (send what you have if you don't have the full 6 months, including statements from a previous processor if relevant).
- Go to the Resolution Center in your account and answer every question from the team, attaching the documents they've asked for.
- Once everything checks out, QuickBooks completes the review and releases the funds, typically within 2 business days of receiving what's needed.
If your money still hasn't shown up after your deposit speed and status both look normal, the delay may be sitting with your bank rather than with QuickBooks. Some banks hold funds briefly after QuickBooks releases them. If that happens, you'll need to follow up with your bank directly to find out what else they require.
For anything you can't resolve on your own, reach out to the QuickBooks Payments support team.
How Do You Check on a Held Payment's Status?
You can track a held payment the same way you'd check any deposit, whether you're on QuickBooks Online or the Merchant Service Center.
In QuickBooks Online
- Sign in to QuickBooks Online.
- Go to All apps > Sales & Get Paid > QuickBooks payouts.
- Select the deposit to see which payments are included and whether any are marked as delayed or held.
In QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks GoPayment
- Sign in to the Merchant Service Center.
- Select Activities & Reports, then Deposits.
- Successful deposits show Funded in the Status column. If you see Withheld or Batch Deposit Returned, select the arrow in the Fee column for details.
For additional details, see the following article: Learn about funds on hold in QuickBooks Payments.
FAQ
Does a hold mean I did something wrong? No. Holds are a routine review step meant to protect everyone in the payment process, and most don't point to any actual problem with your account.
Why is my first deposit taking longer than normal? New QuickBooks Payments accounts take up to 5 business days for the first batch of deposits while your account finishes setting up. After that, deposits move at your regular deposit speed.
Why is my American Express payment slower than my other deposits? If you have an American Express ESA account, those payments follow American Express's own deposit schedule instead of QuickBooks' standard or next-day timing.
What if QuickBooks released the funds but my bank still hasn't shown them? Some banks hold deposits briefly even after QuickBooks releases them. Check with your bank directly to see what additional steps they require on their end.
Can I speed up the review myself? Responding quickly and completely, uploading every document requested and answering every question in the Resolution Center, is the most effective way to move a review along.
Key Takeaways
- "Withheld" in the Method or Status column means a payment is under review, not that anything is necessarily wrong.
- Most standard reviews finish within 2 business days once QuickBooks has what it needs.
- New QuickBooks Payments accounts should expect up to 5 business days for their first deposit batch.
- Check the Merchant Service Center or QuickBooks Online payouts screen any time you want to confirm a payment's status, and check your email (including spam) for instructions.
- If a hold drags on past your bank's normal deposit window, check with your bank directly, since some holds happen on their end after QuickBooks has already released the funds.
Still stuck?
If you have more questions regarding troubleshooting common QuickBooks Payments scenarios, check out our recent Answer Room episode for a deep dive into trending questions. For anything account-specific, go to Help (?) in QuickBooks Online and select Contact us, or reach out to the Payments support team directly.
Helpful Resources
- Learn about funds on hold in QuickBooks Payments: Official guidance on why funds get held and what to do next.
- Find out when QuickBooks Payments deposits customer payments: Deposit schedules and how to check deposit speed and status.
- Common questions about QuickBooks Payments deposits in QuickBooks Online: Answers on deposit timing, statements, and who can view deposits.