QuickBooks HelpQuickBooksHelpIntuit

Create and run your payroll

SOLVED•by QuickBooks•497•Updated February 09, 2024

Step 1: Assign a pay schedule to your employees

We recommend using pay schedules to make running your regular payroll more efficient. If you haven’t already, set up and add a payroll schedule for your employees.

Step 2: Create your paychecks and send your payroll

Next, you’ll need to create your direct deposit or paper paychecks, then send them to us for processing.

If you’ve set up a payroll schedule, you can create a scheduled payroll or an unscheduled payroll

  • Scheduled payroll: paychecks you give your employees regularly. You can also add bonuses or other pay to these paychecks.
  • Unscheduled payroll: you may need to pay your employees bonuses, commissions, a final paycheck, or report fringe benefits outside your regular payroll schedule.

The steps to create your paychecks and run your payroll depend on your payroll service. Select your product below to begin. Not sure which payroll service you have? Here's how to find your payroll service.

Create and send a scheduled payroll

  1. Go to Payroll, then select Employees (Take me there).
  2. Select Run Payroll.
  3. If applicable, select your desired payroll schedule, then Continue.
  4. Select or review the Pay period and Pay date.
  5. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
  6. Select the column, or select Actions ⋮, then Edit paycheck to enter your pay details. You can enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other necessary paycheck info.  If you use QuickBooks Time select Review Approved Time.
  7. Select Preview payroll.
  8. Select or review the QuickBooks Bank account to track your payroll.
  9. Select Preview payroll details or Submit payroll.
  10. Select Close.

Create and send an unscheduled payroll

  1. Go to Payroll, then select Employees (Take me there).
  2. Select the ▼ dropdown, and select one of the following options: Bonus only, Commission only or Fringe benefits only.
  3. Based on your selection you may be asked additional questions. Enter any info about taxes or paycheck calculations (if applicable). Once complete, select Continue. 
  4. Select or review the pay period (if applicable) and pay date.
  5. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
  6. Select the column, or select Actions ⋮, then Edit paycheck to enter your pay details. You can enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other paycheck info as necessary. If you use QuickBooks Time select Review Approved Time.
  7. Select Preview payroll.
  8. Select or review the QuickBooks bank account to track your payroll.
  9. Select Preview payroll details, Save for later or Submit payroll.
  10. Select Close.

The workflow will guide you through how to print out paychecks and pay stubs.

Save time creating your paychecks and running your payroll:

Note: If you need to create a check outside these two payroll runs, you can create a termination paycheck or process a late payroll.
  1. Select Employees, then Pay Employees, and select from the check types Scheduled Payroll, Unscheduled Payroll or Termination Check.
    • Skip to step 3 if you need to run an unscheduled payroll
  2. Select the appropriate schedule, and select Start Scheduled Payroll.
  3. Verify the Pay Period Ends date, Check Date, and QuickBooks Bank Account.
  4. Select the employees you want to pay.
  5. You can enter hours using the grid, or if you are using timesheets, you’ll see all their hours for this pay period already entered. To see everyone's paycheck details, select Open Paycheck Detail.
  6. Select Save & Next to go to the next employee, or select Save & Close to go back to the Enter Payroll Information window.
  7. Select Continue.
  8. Review the Check/Direct Deposit printing options.
  9. Verify the amounts for each employee, and select Create Paychecks.
  10. Print paychecks and print pay stubs now or later if desired. If you have QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted or direct deposit paychecks, send your payroll information and direct deposit paychecks to Intuit.

Save time creating your paychecks and running your payroll:

Was this helpful?

You must sign in to vote, reply, or post
QuickBooks Online Payroll CoreQuickBooks Online Payroll EliteQuickBooks Online Payroll PremiumQuickBooks Payroll AssistedQuickBooks Payroll BasicQuickBooks Payroll EnhancedQuickBooks Payroll Standard

Sign in for the best experience

Ask questions, get answers, and join our large community of QuickBooks users.

More like this