Luckily, QuickBooks offers a user-friendly payroll system that can automate and streamline the entire payroll process so you can focus on running your business. Regardless of the QuickBooks Desktop Payroll option selected, Intuit grants you access to its online library of how-to articles, guides, and FAQs. A community forum is also available if you want to connect with fellow QuickBooks Desktop Payroll users and ask questions about the software’s features. However, note that you can only use QuickBooks Desktop Payroll if you get QuickBooks Desktop—which is Intuit’s desktop accounting system. Payroll is an add-on solution, although the Enterprise version comes with built-in pay processing tools.
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll rated a solid 4.1/5 star rating in the reviews category which reflects its users’ positive experiences with the software. If you’re not in need of immediate help, the QuickBooks Community forum is frequented by QuickBooks experts and actual employees to help you troubleshoot your problems. It serves as a built-in support directory, as most answers will guide you to a relevant help article or video. While time tracking is not built into QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, it functions well as an add-on through QuickBooks Time. The QuickBooks Time add-on syncs with your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll: Basic vs Enhanced vs Full Service
QuickBooks Online Payroll’s starting price of $50/month + $6 per employee is right around average compared to alternatives to QuickBooks alternatives, including Square Payroll and Gusto. Square Payroll’s starting rate is $35/month + $6/employee, while Gusto’s basic plan starts at $49/month + $6/person. Of course, you need to sign up with QuickBooks partners that administer these plans. For instance, workers’ compensation is powered by AP Intego and health benefits are provided in partnership with SimplyInsured. See articles customized for your product and join our large community of QuickBooks users. If you haven’t paid employees yet this year, you won’t need to complete this step.
In case you enter the needed information, then your payroll is ready to use. In such a scenario, it is possible to run your first payroll and modify or make additions if you want to. Lastly, QuickBooks will do some calculations for the price you need to pay and then differentiate it from the overall amount paid by you already and allow you to check the remaining balance. Regardless of the last stage, you will need to do some edits, however, some state taxes are fixed beforehand for QuickBooks Users, comprising employee disability and state withholding. When the point is about Federal Taxes, you may witness that QuickBooks set up many different taxes such as social security, federal withholding, medicare, federal unemployment, etc.
Data Conversion
No assurance is given that the information is comprehensive in its coverage or that it is suitable in dealing with a customer’s particular situation. Intuit Inc. does not have any responsibility for updating or revising any information presented herein. Accordingly, the information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent research. Intuit Inc. does not warrant that the material contained herein will continue to be accurate nor that it is completely free of errors when published. Yes, you can use QuickBooks payroll for a 30-day trial before making the payment. This will allow you to explore its features and functionality without making a long-term commitment.
QuickBooks Desktop Assisted Payroll
It automatically imports necessary data and prepares 1099s that you just need to download and email to the contractors. QuickBooks Payroll enables you to offer competitive benefits to your employees. It provides workers’ compensation via AP Intego and health benefits, affordable medical, dental and vision insurance packages by SimplyInsured. So the setup is designed to allow you to add info at your convenience and save as you go. If you purchased your payroll online or by phone, you’ll receive a 16-digit service key by email. You’ll enter this key in QuickBooks so you can use the payroll features.
Benefits Administration
- You simply need to provide employee hours with Assisted Full Service Payroll; Intuit will compute paychecks, file tax forms, and make tax payments on your behalf.
- Users can create custom payroll reports or choose from the built-in payroll report templates.
- Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.
- QuickBooks Payroll supports independent contractor payroll and keeps track of when, what and how much for each contractor payment.
- Intuit will discontinue add-on services for its QuickBooks Desktop 2020 for Windows on June 1, 2023.
While the two options offer efficient payroll tools, we recommend QuickBooks Desktop Assisted Payroll, as it allows business owners to outsource payroll tax administration. With this desktop payroll plan, QuickBooks will handle all of your tax payment and tax form submission needs, including year-end reporting. The QuickBooks Desktop Enhanced payroll plan adds the ability to prepare payroll tax forms, submit and make electronic payroll tax payments to the Basic plan. This plan is great for small company owners who wish to maintain payroll in-house while keeping costs down. Calculating paychecks, printing checks, and submitting direct deposit payments are all simple with Enhanced Payroll. You may also use the program to prepare payroll tax forms and make tax payments online.
- QuickBooks Assisted Payroll is only available to new customers under the QuickBooks Enterprise Diamond plan.
- Critical capabilities like calculations, payments, reporting and compliance filings are automated.
- Make sure you remember to sell the overtime rates, health insurance costs, bonuses, or mileage reimbursement.
- Now that you’re running payroll, you may need to add or change things.
- You’ll need to define your company’s payroll policies related to pay cycles, pay dates, overtime rules, expense reimbursements, and more.
They provide a number of options that you may utilize to get assistance. All three options, like QuickBooks Online, feature unlimited live customer assistance through phone or chat. In addition, all three options include email help and support to wrap out the year at no extra cost. The QuickBooks Payroll self-service portal allows employees to access pay stubs, set up direct deposit, update personal information and more.
QuickBooks Online Premium Payroll
Besides, QuickBooks does not automatically process local taxes; you need to do that manually at your end. OnPay calculates, files and pays local tax obligations automatically. QuickBooks Payroll enables you to track time, run payroll accurately, fill and submit forms, file and pay taxes in time and more to stay compliant. You can access payroll data, list of banks, next payroll run date and more from a single dashboard.
Gusto users can get a same-day direct deposit only if they sign up for Gusto Wallet. Gusto provides a wide range of integrations with many other software systems. Also, Gusto calculates, files and pays local tax obligations automatically. When it comes to pricing, QuickBooks Payroll costs less than OnPay for those that have five or more employees. Pricing aside, QuickBooks Payroll provides integration only with QuickBooks Online but with OnPay you can integrate with multiple accounting software such as QuickBooks Online and Xero.
It’s very simple to set up because it files and pays payroll taxes online. QuickBooks Desktop users have two options for adding payroll functionality to its accounting platform. Enhanced Payroll provides a complete set of payroll functions for preparing and e-filing tax forms. Assisted Payroll takes payroll tax filings off your “to-do” list by taking care of processing and submitting tax forms and making payroll tax payments, while providing a no-penalty guarantee. In evaluating the different QuickBooks Desktop Payroll options, we looked at pricing, ease of use, and user reviews. We also compared features, the type of support offered, and whether it offers a tax penalty-free guarantee.
If you’re already accustomed to QuickBooks, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll will seem familiar and easy. QuickBooks Desktop Payroll works with locally-installed QuickBooks Desktop accounting software. Starting at $55/month + $6 per employee paid, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll pricing is on the expensive side. All QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Desktop Premiere, Mac, and Desktop Enhanced Payroll products, excluding QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, will no longer be available quickbooks payroll desktop to new users after September 30, 2024. Existing QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Mac, or Enhanced Payroll users will not be impacted.
What are the steps in the payroll process?
For users, it will be an extra expense to include an add-on QuickBooks Payroll feature. Based on the plan you select, you will be required to pay somewhere between 29 to 109 USD every month along with an extra fee of 2 dollars for every employee. But the good part is that you can select a 30-day free trial before making any long-term commitment. QuickBooks Desktop Basic Payroll comes with self-explanatory on-screen features that walk users through customizing payroll settings, adding new workers, and paying employees.
Plus, it charges a per-employee fee every pay run (the Enhanced Payroll is free to use if you’re on the Enterprise Gold and Platinum plans). However, while Square Payroll and Gusto are cheaper alternatives to QuickBooks Online Payroll, they aren’t cheaper by much. If you’re already locked into the QuickBooks system, it might be worth adding payroll services just to keep things cohesive. QuickBooks Desktop Payroll alternatives, such as QuickBooks Online and Gusto offer stronger tax support and may be more cost-effective.
QuickBooks Payroll has what you need to stay compliant, from labor law posters to expert support. Set up and track employee paid time off and manage paid, unpaid, sick, and vacation time. Handling payroll can be a complex process, but QuickBooks simplifies it with automation and easy-to-use tools.
Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships. Users cited a cumbersome process when setting up payroll, a lack of customer support, and ever-increasing prices as their primary concerns regarding the software. Customer support was a mixed bag, with some reviewers praising the service and others lodging complaints about the lack of support they received.