You can send a QuickBooks invoice without a payment link by turning off the payment feature before you send it
QuickBooks automatically adds a payment link to invoices you send through the platform. If you want to send an invoice without that link — whether you handle payment separately, use a different payment processor, or straightforward prefer not to offer online payment — you can disable it in your invoice settings before sending. The process takes one step and applies to that single invoice, not your entire account.
This is useful if you bill through a separate system, collect payment by check or bank transfer, or want to keep payment discussions off the invoice itself. It also prevents customers from seeing payment options you do not want to offer them.
Key Takeaways
- Open the invoice in QuickBooks, scroll to the bottom, and uncheck the "Allow online payment" box before you send it.
- This removes the payment link from that invoice only; other invoices you send will still include payment options unless you disable them individually.
- Disabling the payment link does not change how you track the invoice in QuickBooks or affect your payment settings for future invoices.
- If you want to remove payment links from all invoices going forward, you can change your default invoice template in QuickBooks settings.
How to disable the payment link on a single invoice
Open the invoice you want to send in QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop. Scroll to the bottom of the invoice form, where you will see a section labeled "Online payment options" or similar wording depending on your QuickBooks version.
Look for a checkbox next to "Allow online payment" or "Let customers pay online." Uncheck that box. The payment link will no longer appear when you send the invoice to your customer. Save the invoice and send it as usual — the customer will receive the invoice without any payment button or link.
Removing payment links from all future invoices
If you do not want payment links on any of your invoices, you can change your default template instead of disabling the link on each invoice individually. In QuickBooks Online, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Account and Settings, then Sales. Look for the section labeled "Online delivery" or "Invoices."
Find the option that controls whether online payment is shown by default. Uncheck it. From that point forward, new invoices will not include a payment link unless you manually add one. Invoices you have already sent are not affected by this change.
In QuickBooks Desktop, the process is similar: go to Edit, then Preferences, then Sales & Customers, then the Company Preferences tab. Look for invoice template settings and disable the online payment option there.
What happens to the invoice after you remove the payment link
The invoice itself functions exactly the same way. It still shows the amount due, the due date, your payment terms, and your contact information. Removing the payment link straightforward means the customer cannot click a button to pay you directly through QuickBooks. They will need to contact you separately to arrange payment.
In your QuickBooks account, the invoice still tracks normally. You can mark it as paid when you receive payment through another method, create reminders for overdue invoices, and run reports on it just as you would any other invoice. The payment link is only a delivery mechanism — removing it does not change how QuickBooks records or manages the invoice.
When to send invoices without payment links
You might remove the payment link if you use a separate payment processor that you prefer customers to use, such as Stripe, PayPal, or your own merchant account. You might also remove it if you bill clients who pay by check, wire transfer, or ACH, and you want to keep the invoice clean and focused on the amount owed rather than offering multiple payment paths.
Some businesses remove payment links from invoices sent to other businesses (B2B invoices) because those customers typically have established payment procedures and do not need an online option. Others remove them from invoices sent to customers in certain industries or regions where online payment is not standard practice.
The difference between removing the link and blocking online payments
Disabling the payment link on an invoice is not the same as turning off online payments in your QuickBooks account entirely. When you uncheck the box on a single invoice, that invoice straightforward does not show a payment option. Your account settings remain unchanged, and other invoices will still include payment links.
If you want to stop accepting online payments altogether through QuickBooks, you would need to change your account settings or disconnect your payment processor. That is a separate step and affects all invoices going forward. For most users, straightforward removing the link from specific invoices is the faster and more flexible approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I remove the payment link, can the customer still pay me online through QuickBooks?
No. Without the link on the invoice, the customer has no way to pay you through QuickBooks from that document. They would need to contact you separately to arrange payment through another method.
Will removing the payment link affect how I track the invoice in QuickBooks?
No. The invoice tracks and reports the same way whether the payment link is there or not. You can still mark it paid, set reminders, and run reports on it normally.
Can I remove the payment link from invoices I have already sent?
No. The invoice is already in your customer's inbox. You can create a new invoice without the payment link and send that instead, or contact the customer directly to explain the payment method you prefer.
What if I want to remove payment links from some invoices but not others?
You can disable the link on each invoice individually before you send it. There is no way to set rules that automatically remove the link from certain customers or invoice types — you control it on a per-invoice basis.
Does removing the payment link change my QuickBooks payment settings?
No. Your account settings and payment processor connections stay the same. You are only changing what appears on that one invoice. Other invoices you send will still show payment options unless you disable them too.