No. QuickBooks Payroll has STP compliance built in to your existing Payroll plan.

Single Touch Payroll (STP)

Q: What is Single Touch Payroll (STP)?

Single Touch Payroll is an ATO initiative introduced in 2018 to streamline payroll reporting.Single Touch Payroll legislation requires employers to report wages, PAYG withholding, and superannuation information directly to the ATO using an online payroll system.

Q: What is Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2?

Single Touch Payroll was an ATO initiative introduced in 2018 to streamline payroll reporting, however there are further STP changes (Phase 2) coming into effect from January 2022 that primarily relate to further reporting details provided to the ATO.These include greater detail in reporting gross wages, employment and taxation conditions, visibility on income types and country roads, as well as child support garnishees and deductions.The ATO also has further information about the changes here.

Q: Do I need Single Touch Payroll?

Yes. ATO Single Touch Payroll has been mandatory for all employers since 1 July 2019.According to the ATO, small employers with 19 or less employees should already be reporting Single Touch Payroll. Micro employers with less than 4 employees can report quarterly through their registered tax or BAS agent.To find out which employees to count when doing a headcount, click here.We encourage small businesses with employees to get digital-ready as soon as possible.

Q: How do I get Single Touch Payroll compliant?

If you're already a QuickBooks user, you're in good hands—Our integrated payroll solution is already 100% ATO compliant and Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 enabled.You can add Payroll to your plan from as little as $5 per month, per employee paid** See our Payroll plans here.

Q: How will Single Touch Payroll affect my payroll?

If you’re already using QuickBooks payroll software, Single Touch Payroll won't change the way you process payroll.If you’re not digital-ready and need some help, we can help. Our powerful payroll software, powered by KeyPay, works behind the scenes to automatically report your data with every pay run.For Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 - the focus is around the expansion of reporting details rather than the STP lodgement process itself, so most employers won't need to change the way they currently lodge their STP reports. We will be in touch with our customers closer to the date to confirm changes or requirements.

Q: Do I need an accountant to get Single Touch Payroll?

QuickBooks Online payroll, powered by KeyPay, comes with Single Touch Payroll compliance built in. But it is always nice to get some extra advice.We can help connect you with an STP expert. Choose from a selection of qualified accountants and bookkeepers with the skills your business needs to stay on top of payroll and ATO compliance. Click here to find an STP expert.

Q: Does QuickBooks have a Single Touch Payroll solution?

We certainly do. QuickBooks Payroll comes with Single Touch Payroll compliance built in. So whatever your business, you can pay your staff with ease and confidence.

Q: How will STP affect my business?

If you're a QuickBooks customer, you're in good hands. Our integrated payroll solution, powered by KeyPay, has been STP ready for quite some time.There are plenty of software providers out there, but unlike some, QuickBooks Payroll has STP compliance built in before the ATO 1 January 2021 deadline.You can add Quickbooks Payroll from just $5 per month, per employee paid** on top of a Quickbooks accounting plan.

ATO compliance doesn't have to be complicated. QuickBooks payroll - powered by KeyPay is ATO approved and comes with built in STP compliance.

Get STP ready

Single Touch Payroll (STP) for Small Business

What is Single Touch Payroll (STP)?

Implemented by the ATO (Australian Tax Office) in 2018, Single Touch Payroll is a way for employers to report wages, PAYG and super.

Instead of waiting until the end of the financial year, payroll info is reported every time staff get paid.

There are further STP changes coming into effect from January 2022, however ATO has granted all QuickBooks customers a deferral of these changes until the 28 February 2022.

We have recently released some new updates in the platform to better prepare QB customers for STP Phase 2.

What are the changes

These changes primarily relate to expanding reporting details provided to the ATO and include:

Greater detail of gross Wages, employment and taxation conditions, Visibility on income types and country codes and Child support garnishees and deductions.

Learn more STP phase 2

Allowance items

Additional allowance type codes will be added to meet the new reporting requirements. This will allow the ATO to assist employees when completing their individual income tax returns.

Learn more

Child support deductions

Previously, employers had to submit deduction reports to relevant child support agencies. New changes mean you will now report child support deductions as a pay event which removes separate reporting requirements.

Learn more

Income stream collection

You now need to group employee payments into income type, payment type & country codes (for specific income types). This is a new ATO term called, ‘income stream collection'.

Learn more

Tax file number declaration

All relevant employee tax information will be incorporated into STP reporting. This means you will no longer need to submit tax file declarations to the ATO.

Learn more

Lump sum E letters

Previously, employers had to supply their staff with lump sum E letters at the end of the financial year. New reporting under STP Phase 2 means this data will be included in the pay event prior to finalising your employee income statements – this means Lump sum E letters are no longer required.

Paid leave

Paid leave will no longer be incorporated as part of gross earnings and will instead be reported using itemised leave type codes.

Learn more

Negative Year-to-Date (YTD) reporting

The ATO will allow negative YTD amounts to be submitted via STP.

Termination

You’ll need to include a reason for terminating employees. This change means you’ll no longer need to issue employment separation certificates to Service Australia.

Learn more

Download PDF version

How QuickBooks can help with STP compliance?

Discover the benefits of Single Touch Payroll and using QuickBooks Payroll powered by KeyPay.

Streamline reporting

Automatically send payroll info each pay run

Fast and accurate processing

No more manual data entry

Easier at tax time

Save time and paperwork at the end of the financial year

ATO approved

Send complete and ATO compliant reports with every pay run

How do I get ready for Single Touch Payroll Phase 2?

The new ATO legislation means that all employers will have to use STP compliant software to run payroll.

Learn more about the STP Phase 2 changes with QuickBooks here

I don't have payroll software

You can add Quickbooks Payroll from just $5 per month, per employee paid** on top of a Quickbooks accounting plan.

I'm an existing user

If you're a QuickBooks user, you're in good hands— unlike other providers, our integrated payroll solution is already 100% ATO compliant and Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 enabled. You can add Payroll to your plan from as little as $5 per month, per employee paid* See our Payroll plans here.

Find out how to enable STP in QuickBooks Online.

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Single Touch Payroll checklist

Download the handy STP checklist to help get your payroll in order.

Get STP checklist

How to switch on STP in QuickBooks

Sign in to your QuickBooks account
Select Employees and sign up to KeyPay (our integrated payroll partner)
Select Payroll settings then Electronic lodgement and STP
Select Enable Single Touch Payroll

For a more detailed look at how to set up STP, click here .

Easy set-up with free onboarding session

Get one on one expert guidance to take you from signup to payrun so everything is set up to suit your business needs.

Book a free payroll set up session

Hear how QuickBooks is helping our customers with
Single Touch Payroll compliance

I love how QuickBooks brings efficiency to our payroll. Hours are logged on-site with the app and we receive it instantly.

Ana Saad Co-Founder - J&JJ Landscaping

We use QuickBooks for most of our clients. It's STP compliant and has the tools that the building industry needs.

Maria Cavallaro, Founder - Tradie Troopers

Frequently asked questions about Single Touch Payroll (STP)

What is Single Touch Payroll (STP)?

What is Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2?

Single Touch Payroll was an ATO initiative introduced in 2018 to streamline payroll reporting, however there are further STP changes (Phase 2) coming into effect from January 2022 that primarily relate to further reporting details provided to the ATO.

These include greater detail in reporting gross wages, employment and taxation conditions, visibility on income types and country roads, as well as child support garnishees and deductions.

The ATO also has further information about the changes here.

Do I need Single Touch Payroll?

Yes. ATO Single Touch Payroll has been mandatory for all employers since 1 July 2019.

According to the ATO, small employers with 19 or less employees should already be reporting Single Touch Payroll. Micro employers with less than 4 employees can report quarterly through their registered tax or BAS agent.

To find out which employees to count when doing a headcount, click here.

We encourage small businesses with employees to get digital-ready as soon as possible.

How do I get Single Touch Payroll compliant?

How will Single Touch Payroll affect my payroll?

If you’re already using QuickBooks payroll software, Single Touch Payroll won't change the way you process payroll.

If you’re not digital-ready and need some help, we can help. Our powerful payroll software, powered by KeyPay, works behind the scenes to automatically report your data with every pay run.

For Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 - the focus is around the expansion of reporting details rather than the STP lodgement process itself, so most employers won't need to change the way they currently lodge their STP reports. We will be in touch with our customers closer to the date to confirm changes or requirements.

Do I need an accountant to get Single Touch Payroll?

Does QuickBooks have a Single Touch Payroll solution?

Does STP cost extra?

How will STP affect my business?

If you're a QuickBooks customer, you're in good hands. Our integrated payroll solution, powered by KeyPay, has been STP ready for quite some time.

There are plenty of software providers out there, but unlike some, QuickBooks Payroll has STP compliance built in before the ATO 1 January 2021 deadline.

You can add Quickbooks Payroll from just $5 per month, per employee paid** on top of a Quickbooks accounting plan.

Speak with our local QuickBooks team about our Payroll options and meeting Single Touch Payroll compliance 1800 917 771

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Single Touch Payroll (STP)

ATO compliance doesn't have to be complicated. QuickBooks payroll - powered by KeyPay is ATO approved and comes with built in STP compliance.

What is Single Touch Payroll (STP)?

What are the changes

Allowance items

Child support deductions

Income stream collection

Tax file number declaration

Lump sum E letters

Paid leave

Negative Year-to-Date (YTD) reporting

Termination

How QuickBooks can help with STP compliance?

Streamline reporting

Fast and accurate processing

Easier at tax time

ATO approved

How do I get ready for Single Touch Payroll Phase 2?

I don't have payroll software

I'm an existing user

Build the right plan for your business

How to switch on STP in QuickBooks

Easy set-up with free onboarding session

Hear how QuickBooks is helping our customers withSingle Touch Payroll compliance

Frequently asked questions about Single Touch Payroll (STP)

Hear how QuickBooks is helping our customers with
Single Touch Payroll compliance