Payroll

You will need to have QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or Enterprise 2017 or newer.

The federal government requires every person or company paying wages to have an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Employers must include it on all federal forms and returns. You can apply for an EIN at the following IRS Web site.

You’ll also need Internet access to automatically download the latest payroll tax rates.

Can I switch to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll anytime?

Yes. However, if you’ve already paid employees this year, you’ll need to enter your year-to-date payroll history to ensure the calculations are correct. If you subscribe to Assisted Payroll, one of our payroll experts will guide you through the set-up process.

Does QuickBooks Desktop Payroll handle both hourly and salaried employees?

Yes. QuickBooks Desktop payroll covers both hourly and salaried employees.

What about bonuses, commissions, and overtime?

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll handles all of these, plus many other wage types.

How do I pay my employees?

Just enter your employees’ hours, and QuickBooks Desktop Payroll will calculate paychecks, subtracting payroll taxes and deductions. Then print paychecks instantly, or use our convenient Direct Deposit.

You can also pay groups of employees on different days. For example, you may pay salaried employees monthly, while paying hourly employees weekly.

Can I pay contractors and produce 1099s?

Yes. You can pay both regular employees and independent contractors with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

Can I pay employees using direct deposit?

Yes. With Intuit’s direct deposit, you can deposit pay into U.S. bank accounts.

You can always add or remove an employee, or edit their banking information as needed. You can also choose to pay some employees by direct deposit and others by check.

You must send direct deposit transactions to us by 5:00 PM PT two business banking days before the paycheck date. You can deposit paychecks into up to two different accounts per employee.

How much does direct deposit cost?

Direct deposit is free for W-2 employees with your Payroll subscription. However, there is an additional cost for 1099 contractors.

Which federal and state payroll tax forms are included?

Enhanced Payroll and Assisted Payroll complete these federal payroll tax forms for you: W-2, W-3, 940/Schedule A, 941/Schedule B, 944, 945a, 943/943a, 1099-MISC, and 1096. Basic Payroll does not include any tax forms.

Assisted Payroll offers an optional service including W-2 preparation, printing, and mailing. Review pricing details.

How does QuickBooks Desktop Payroll help me with payroll taxes?

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll calculates state and federal payroll taxes.

Payroll Enhanced keeps track of when tax payments are due and completes the latest federal tax forms and most state tax forms for you—just print, sign, and mail. You can also e-file and pay your payroll taxes electronically.

Assisted Payroll files federal and state tax forms for you, and automatically debits your account to pay state and federal payroll taxes on your behalf. After you have finished running payroll, simply submit your payroll data to our service with a few clicks, and we’ll do the rest.

Which benefits and deductions does QuickBooks Desktop Payroll handle?

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll tracks vacation time, sick time, paid time off, medical and dental insurance, 401(k) and other retirement plans, cash advances, and more. You can choose different deductions for different employees.

Does it track workers’ compensation?

Yes. QuickBooks Desktop Payroll helps you apply the right workers’ compensation codes so you can generate detailed reports of exactly how much you owe. You can also use our pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation service to automatically pay exactly what you owe each pay day. Get a quote today.

How do I activate my Payroll subscription?

If you purchased QuickBooks Desktop Payroll in a retail store, in the menu bar click Employees > Payroll > Install Payroll from Box. Then follow the on-screen instructions to complete activation.

If you purchased QuickBooks Desktop Payroll from the web or over the phone, in the menu bar click Employees > Payroll > Enter Service Key. Then follow the on-screen instructions to complete activation.

If you purchase QuickBooks Desktop Payroll in QuickBooks, it will automatically be activated for you.

If you have Assisted Payroll, our onboarding experts will assist in activating your payroll subscription and payroll setup.