What You Pay When You Use Intuit Payment Network

Intuit Payment Network charges you per transaction, not per month

Intuit Payment Network (IPN) is a payment processing service built into QuickBooks and some other Intuit products. When you use it to accept card payments or bank transfers from customers, Intuit charges you a percentage of each transaction plus a flat per-transaction fee. There is no monthly subscription fee for the service itself, but you pay every time money moves through it.

The exact fees depend on which Intuit product you use, how the payment is made (card-present, card-not-present, or ACH bank transfer), and whether you are a new customer. Intuit also charges different rates for different card types — debit cards, credit cards, and rewards cards all cost you different amounts per swipe.

Understanding these fees matters because they come out of your revenue automatically. If you process $10,000 in payments in a month, you might pay $300 to $400 in fees depending on the mix of payment types. That money leaves your account before you see it, so it is worth knowing the exact rate you are paying.

Key Takeaways

• Intuit Payment Network charges a percentage plus a per-transaction fee on every payment, with rates varying by payment method and card type.
• Card-present transactions (in-person, with a physical card reader) usually cost less than card-not-present transactions (online or phone orders).
• ACH bank transfers have a flat fee per transaction, typically lower than card fees but with a cap on transaction size.
• New customers may receive promotional rates for a limited time, after which standard rates apply.
• The fees are deducted automatically from your bank account, so you should factor them into your pricing and cash flow planning.

Standard rates for card transactions

Card-present transactions — when a customer hands you a physical card or you swipe it in person — typically run 2.6% plus $0.10 per transaction for standard credit cards. Debit cards cost less, usually around 1.5% plus $0.10. Rewards cards and premium credit cards cost more, sometimes 3.5% or higher. These are the rates Intuit advertises most often, but your actual rate depends on your business type and processing volume.

Card-not-present transactions — when you take a payment online, over the phone, or by mail — cost more because the risk of fraud is higher. These typically run 3.3% plus $0.30 per transaction for standard credit cards. Debit cards are usually 2.2% plus $0.30. Again, premium cards cost more.

Intuit does not publish a single rate sheet because rates change based on your industry, your monthly processing volume, and current promotions. A restaurant processing $50,000 a month in card-present transactions may negotiate a different rate than a consulting firm processing $5,000 a month in card-not-present transactions. The best way to know your exact rate is to log into your QuickBooks account and check the Payments settings, or contact Intuit directly.

ACH bank transfer fees

ACH transfers — when a customer authorizes you to pull money directly from their bank account — have a flat fee per transaction rather than a percentage. Intuit typically charges $0.50 to $1.00 per ACH transaction, depending on your account type. This is usually cheaper than card processing when the transaction is large, but more expensive for small payments.

ACH transfers also have a per-transaction limit, usually $25,000 or $50,000 depending on your account. If a customer needs to send more than that, they have to split it into multiple transactions, which means you pay the fee multiple times. ACH transfers also take longer to settle — usually three to five business days — whereas card payments settle within one or two days.

How fees are deducted from your account

Intuit deducts payment processing fees automatically from the bank account linked to your QuickBooks account. The deduction happens on the same day the payment settles or the next business day, depending on the payment type. You do not have to do anything to authorize the deduction — it is part of the agreement you signed when you set up Intuit Payment Network.

The fees appear as a line item in your QuickBooks register under the Payments account. If you use QuickBooks Online, you can see a detailed breakdown of fees by going to Transactions > Payments and filtering by date. This breakdown shows the gross payment amount, the fee amount, and the net deposit to your bank account. Keeping track of these fees is important for cash flow planning, especially if you process a high volume of payments.

If you dispute a fee or believe you were charged incorrectly, you can contact Intuit support through your QuickBooks account. Intuit will review the transaction and either refund the fee or explain why it was correct. This process usually takes a few business days.

Promotional rates for new customers

Intuit frequently offers promotional rates to new customers who sign up for Intuit Payment Network. These promotions might include a reduced percentage rate for the first three months, a waived per-transaction fee for a limited time, or a flat rate for the first $10,000 in monthly volume. The exact promotion changes throughout the year and varies by region and product.

When a promotional period ends, your rate automatically switches to the standard rate for your business type and processing volume. Intuit sends an email notification before this happens, but the change is automatic — you do not have to do anything. If you want to keep a lower rate, you may be able to negotiate with Intuit or switch to a different payment processor, but there is no may provide.

Comparing Intuit Payment Network to other processors

Intuit Payment Network is built into QuickBooks, which makes it convenient if you already use QuickBooks for accounting. However, it is not the only payment processor available. Square, Stripe, PayPal, and other processors also accept card and ACH payments, and their rates may be lower or higher depending on your business type and payment mix.

The main advantage of Intuit Payment Network is integration — payments appear automatically in your QuickBooks register, and you do not have to manually reconcile them. The main disadvantage is that you cannot easily switch processors without losing that integration. If you use a different processor, you have to manually categorize and record each payment in QuickBooks, which takes time.

Before choosing a processor, compare the total cost of processing your typical monthly payment mix. If you process mostly card-present transactions, Intuit might be cheaper. If you process mostly card-not-present transactions, a processor like Stripe might be cheaper. The only way to know is to calculate the fees for each processor using your actual transaction data.

Fees you might not expect

Beyond the per-transaction fees, Intuit may charge additional fees in certain situations. If a customer disputes a charge and files a chargeback, Intuit typically charges a $15 to $25 chargeback fee on top of reversing the payment. If you refund a payment, the original processing fee is not refunded — you keep paying the fee even though the money went back to the customer. If you use certain advanced features like recurring billing or invoicing, there may be additional fees.

Some of these fees are disclosed in your QuickBooks account settings, but others are buried in the terms of service. It is worth reading through the Payments section of your QuickBooks settings and the Intuit Payment Network terms to understand what you might be charged for. If you have questions, contact Intuit support — they can walk you through the fee structure for your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I negotiate my Intuit Payment Network rates?

Intuit does not typically negotiate rates with individual small businesses, but high-volume merchants may be able to request a rate review. Contact Intuit support and provide your monthly processing volume and average transaction size. They will review your account and may offer a lower rate if you meet their thresholds.

What happens to my processing fees if I refund a customer?

The original processing fee is not refunded when you refund a payment. You pay the fee to process the payment, and you keep paying it even if the money goes back to the customer. Some processors refund the fee, so this is worth comparing if you have a high refund rate.

Do I pay fees on invoices that customers pay late?

No. Intuit Payment Network only charges fees when a payment actually moves through the system. If you send an invoice and the customer pays it weeks later, you only pay the fee when the payment is processed, not when the invoice was created.

Can I use Intuit Payment Network without QuickBooks?

Intuit Payment Network is designed for QuickBooks users, but some Intuit products like QuickBooks Self-Employed and Intuit GoPayment also include payment processing. If you do not use QuickBooks, you will need to use a different payment processor and manually record the payments in your accounting system.

What is the difference between Intuit Payment Network and Intuit GoPayment?

Intuit Payment Network is built into QuickBooks Online and processes payments through your QuickBooks account. Intuit GoPayment is a standalone app that lets you accept payments on your phone or tablet without QuickBooks. GoPayment has its own fee structure and may be cheaper or more expensive depending on your payment mix.