You can send a QuickBooks invoice without including a payment link by turning off the payment option before you send it

QuickBooks automatically adds a payment link to invoices by default, but you can remove it in a few clicks. The process differs slightly depending on whether you use QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop, but both let you send a plain invoice with no payment option attached. This is useful when you want to invoice a customer but handle payment through a separate method — a check, bank transfer, or your own payment processor.

The key is to disable the payment link in your invoice settings before you hit send, not after. Once an invoice goes out with a payment link, you cannot recall it or remove the link retroactively.

Key Takeaways

  • In QuickBooks Online, open the invoice, click the three-dot menu, select "Preferences," and uncheck "Show payment link on invoice" before sending.
  • In QuickBooks Desktop, go to Edit > Preferences > Sales & Customers and turn off the payment link option for all invoices or per invoice.
  • You can set this as your default so invoices never include a payment link unless you specifically add one back.
  • If you have already sent an invoice with a payment link, you will need to send a corrected version or contact the customer separately with new payment instructions.

Removing the payment link in QuickBooks Online

Open the invoice you want to send. In the top right corner, click the three vertical dots (the menu icon). Select "Preferences" from the dropdown. You will see a checkbox labeled "Show payment link on invoice" — uncheck it. The payment link will disappear from the preview on the right side of the screen.

After you uncheck that box, click "Save and close" or proceed directly to send the invoice. The customer will receive an invoice with no payment button or link. If you want this to be your default for all new invoices going forward, check the box that says "Make this my default preference" before you save.

Removing the payment link in QuickBooks Desktop

Go to the Edit menu at the top of the screen and select "Preferences." In the Preferences window, click "Sales & Customers" on the left side. Click the "Company Preferences" tab. Look for the option related to online payment or payment links — the exact wording varies by QuickBooks version, but it will say something like "Allow customers to pay online" or "Enable online payment."

Uncheck that box and click OK. This will turn off payment links for all future invoices. If you want to disable the link for only one invoice instead of all of them, you can also right-click the invoice itself and look for an option to disable online payment before sending.

Setting this as your default so you do not have to repeat it

Both QuickBooks Online and Desktop let you make "no payment link" your standard setting. In QuickBooks Online, when you uncheck "Show payment link on invoice," look for the checkbox that says "Make this my default preference" — checking it means every new invoice you create will have no payment link unless you manually turn it back on.

In QuickBooks Desktop, once you uncheck the payment option in Preferences under Company Preferences, it applies to all invoices going forward. You do not have to repeat the step for each one. If you ever want to add a payment link back to a specific invoice, you can override the default by editing that invoice individually.

What the customer sees when there is no payment link

Without a payment link, the invoice shows the amount due, the due date, and your payment instructions — but no clickable button or embedded payment form. Customers will see text like "Please remit payment to" followed by whatever payment details you have entered in your company settings (mailing address for checks, bank account information for transfers, or a note to call you).

Make sure your payment instructions are clear and complete before you send. If you remove the payment link but do not include alternative payment details, the customer will know money is owed but will not know how to pay it. Add payment instructions in the "Memo" field or in your company payment settings so they appear on every invoice.

Resending an invoice if you already sent it with a payment link

If you have already sent an invoice that includes a payment link and you want to send a version without it, create a new invoice with the same details, turn off the payment link, and send that one instead. You can note in the memo or message that this is an updated version.

Do not delete the original invoice from QuickBooks — that will affect your accounting records. Instead, mark it as sent and create a fresh one. Send the new invoice to the customer with a brief note explaining that you are providing an updated version with different payment instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove the payment link from an invoice after I have already sent it?

No. Once an invoice is sent, the customer has the version with the payment link. You cannot recall it or remove the link from their copy. Your only option is to send a corrected invoice without the payment link and ask the customer to disregard the first one.

Will removing the payment link affect my accounting or tax records?

No. The payment link is only a delivery method — it does not change how the invoice is recorded in QuickBooks or how it appears in your financial reports. Removing it affects only what the customer sees, not your books.

What if I want to send some invoices with a payment link and some without?

You can do this by setting your default to no payment link, then manually turning the link back on for specific invoices before you send them. Or set your default to include a link and turn it off case by case. Either way, you control it at the moment you send.

Does the customer still owe the money if there is no payment link?

Yes. The payment link is just a convenience for the customer — it does not change the invoice amount or due date. Without it, the customer still owes the full amount and must pay by whatever method you have listed in your payment instructions.