Running payroll is an important part of managing your business, but sometimes things don't go as expected. Maybe an employee's hours are missing, the payroll totals don't look right, or you've received an error when trying to submit your payroll to HMRC.The good news is that many common payroll problems can be traced back to something relatively simple, such as missing employee information, incorrect pay details or a setting that needs updating.In this mini guide, we'll walk through some common QuickBooks payroll issues, what to check and where to find help if you're stuck.The steps below mainly apply to QuickBooks Online Core, Premium and Elite Payroll. If you're using QuickBooks Advanced Payroll, some options and processes will be different.1. Employee hours are missing or incorrectIf an employee's hours aren't showing correctly when you run payroll, it's worth checking the information being used to calculate their pay.Here's what to check:Go to Payroll and select Employees. Select Run payroll and check that you're using the correct pay period. Review the hours entered for the affected employee. If anything is missing or incorrect, edit the payroll payment details before submitting payroll.If you're using QuickBooks Time to track employee hours, check that the relevant timesheets have been completed and approved. It's also worth checking that the dates match the payroll period you're processing.You can use the Payroll Report in QuickBooks Time to review recorded hours before running payroll.Helpful guide: Set up QuickBooks Time in QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Online Payroll2. Payroll totals don't look rightNoticed that an employee's take-home pay is different from what you expected?There are several things that can affect payroll calculations, including PAYE, National Insurance, pension contributions, student loan repayments and changes to an employee's pay.Before assuming something has gone wrong, take a closer look at how the total has been calculated.A few things worth checking:Employee pay details: Is their salary, hourly rate or other payment information correct? Hours worked: Have you included the correct regular and overtime hours? Tax codes: Is the employee's tax code up to date? Pension contributions: Are the correct pension settings and contributions being applied? Other deductions: Are student loans or other applicable deductions affecting the final amount?You can review the payroll calculations using the preview before submitting your pay run.If you've recently moved to QuickBooks Payroll, it's also worth checking that any previous payroll history has been entered correctly. Missing or incorrect year-to-date figures can affect payroll calculations.Helpful guide: Add pay history to QuickBooks Online Payroll3. Getting an error when processing payroll?Payroll errors can be frustrating, particularly when you're working towards a payday deadline.If you're seeing an error while submitting payroll to HMRC, start by checking the basics:Are you using the correct Government Gateway credentials for payroll? Are your PAYE and Accounts Office references correct? Are employee details complete and up to date? Is there a temporary issue with HMRC's online services?Some errors also include a code that can help identify what's causing the problem.For example:Error 1046: Usually relates to Government Gateway authentication or credentials. Error 7801: Indicates an issue with the PAYE or Accounts Office reference. Error 4065: Can appear when employee or employer information is missing or incorrectly formatted. Error 1000: Can indicate a temporary HMRC system issue.The appropriate fix depends on the error you're receiving, so it's important to check the specific code rather than repeatedly attempting the submission.Helpful guide: Fix payroll error codes in QuickBooks4. Where can I find my payroll reports?Payroll reports are useful when you need to double-check employee payments, investigate a difference or review payroll figures from an earlier period.In QuickBooks Online Payroll, you can find them by following these steps:Go to Reports. Select Standard reports. Use the search bar to find the report you need, or browse the Payroll reports section. Open the relevant report to review your payroll information.If you're using QuickBooks Advanced Payroll, reports are available within the Payroll area. For example, the Gross to Net report can help you review earnings, PAYE, National Insurance, pension contributions and net pay.Helpful guides:Navigating QuickBooks Online Payroll Run payroll reports in QuickBooks Advanced Payroll5. What if I've already run payroll and spotted a mistake?Sometimes you only notice an issue after payroll has been processed.If that happens, the first thing to establish is exactly what went wrong and whether the payroll information has already been submitted to HMRC.For example, you might discover that:An employee was paid for the wrong number of hours. A deduction was missed. An employee's pay was calculated incorrectly. Incorrect information was included in a payroll submission.The next steps will depend on the type of error, the payroll product you're using and whether the pay run has already been finalised or reported to HMRC.Avoid simply running payroll again to correct the difference, as this could create duplicate payments or reporting issues.Instead, review the affected employee's payroll records and the original pay run before making changes. If you're unsure how to correct a completed payroll, contact QuickBooks Support for guidance on the appropriate process.A few checks before your next payroll runTaking a few minutes to review your payroll information before submitting it can help you avoid problems later.It's worth checking that:Employee details and tax information are up to date. Timesheets and working hours are correct. Any changes to pay, bonuses or deductions have been included. The pay period and payment date are correct. You've reviewed the payroll preview before submitting.You can find more information about preparing and submitting payroll in our guide to running payroll in QuickBooks Online.Need a hand with a payroll problem?If you're having trouble with payroll, feel free to start a discussion here in the Community.Let us know which QuickBooks Payroll product you're using, what you're trying to do and where you're getting stuck. If you're seeing an error message, including the error code can help other members and our experts understand what's happening.Just remember not to share sensitive employee information, payroll credentials or personal details in a public Community post.

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Mini Guide: How to troubleshoot common QuickBooks payroll problems

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Running payroll is an important part of managing your business, but sometimes things don't go as expected. Maybe an employee's hours are missing, the payroll totals don't look right, or you've received an error when trying to submit your payroll to HMRC.

The good news is that many common payroll problems can be traced back to something relatively simple, such as missing employee information, incorrect pay details or a setting that needs updating.

In this mini guide, we'll walk through some common QuickBooks payroll issues, what to check and where to find help if you're stuck.

The steps below mainly apply to QuickBooks Online Core, Premium and Elite Payroll. If you're using QuickBooks Advanced Payroll, some options and processes will be different.

1. Employee hours are missing or incorrect

If an employee's hours aren't showing correctly when you run payroll, it's worth checking the information being used to calculate their pay.

Here's what to check:

Go to Payroll and select Employees.
Select Run payroll and check that you're using the correct pay period.
Review the hours entered for the affected employee.
If anything is missing or incorrect, edit the payroll payment details before submitting payroll.

If you're using QuickBooks Time to track employee hours, check that the relevant timesheets have been completed and approved. It's also worth checking that the dates match the payroll period you're processing.

You can use the Payroll Report in QuickBooks Time to review recorded hours before running payroll.

Helpful guide: Set up QuickBooks Time in QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Online Payroll

2. Payroll totals don't look right

Noticed that an employee's take-home pay is different from what you expected?

There are several things that can affect payroll calculations, including PAYE, National Insurance, pension contributions, student loan repayments and changes to an employee's pay.

Before assuming something has gone wrong, take a closer look at how the total has been calculated.

A few things worth checking:

Employee pay details: Is their salary, hourly rate or other payment information correct?
Hours worked: Have you included the correct regular and overtime hours?
Tax codes: Is the employee's tax code up to date?
Pension contributions: Are the correct pension settings and contributions being applied?
Other deductions: Are student loans or other applicable deductions affecting the final amount?

You can review the payroll calculations using the preview before submitting your pay run.

If you've recently moved to QuickBooks Payroll, it's also worth checking that any previous payroll history has been entered correctly. Missing or incorrect year-to-date figures can affect payroll calculations.

Helpful guide: Add pay history to QuickBooks Online Payroll

3. Getting an error when processing payroll?

Payroll errors can be frustrating, particularly when you're working towards a payday deadline.

If you're seeing an error while submitting payroll to HMRC, start by checking the basics:

Are you using the correct Government Gateway credentials for payroll?
Are your PAYE and Accounts Office references correct?
Are employee details complete and up to date?
Is there a temporary issue with HMRC's online services?

Some errors also include a code that can help identify what's causing the problem.

For example:

Error 1046: Usually relates to Government Gateway authentication or credentials.
Error 7801: Indicates an issue with the PAYE or Accounts Office reference.
Error 4065: Can appear when employee or employer information is missing or incorrectly formatted.
Error 1000: Can indicate a temporary HMRC system issue.

The appropriate fix depends on the error you're receiving, so it's important to check the specific code rather than repeatedly attempting the submission.

Helpful guide: Fix payroll error codes in QuickBooks

4. Where can I find my payroll reports?

Payroll reports are useful when you need to double-check employee payments, investigate a difference or review payroll figures from an earlier period.

In QuickBooks Online Payroll, you can find them by following these steps:

Go to Reports.
Select Standard reports.
Use the search bar to find the report you need, or browse the Payroll reports section.
Open the relevant report to review your payroll information.

If you're using QuickBooks Advanced Payroll, reports are available within the Payroll area. For example, the Gross to Net report can help you review earnings, PAYE, National Insurance, pension contributions and net pay.

Helpful guides:

5. What if I've already run payroll and spotted a mistake?

Sometimes you only notice an issue after payroll has been processed.

If that happens, the first thing to establish is exactly what went wrong and whether the payroll information has already been submitted to HMRC.

For example, you might discover that:

An employee was paid for the wrong number of hours.
A deduction was missed.
An employee's pay was calculated incorrectly.
Incorrect information was included in a payroll submission.

The next steps will depend on the type of error, the payroll product you're using and whether the pay run has already been finalised or reported to HMRC.

Avoid simply running payroll again to correct the difference, as this could create duplicate payments or reporting issues.

Instead, review the affected employee's payroll records and the original pay run before making changes. If you're unsure how to correct a completed payroll, contact QuickBooks Support for guidance on the appropriate process.

A few checks before your next payroll run

Taking a few minutes to review your payroll information before submitting it can help you avoid problems later.

It's worth checking that:

Employee details and tax information are up to date.
Timesheets and working hours are correct.
Any changes to pay, bonuses or deductions have been included.
The pay period and payment date are correct.
You've reviewed the payroll preview before submitting.

You can find more information about preparing and submitting payroll in our guide to running payroll in QuickBooks Online.

Need a hand with a payroll problem?

If you're having trouble with payroll, feel free to start a discussion here in the Community.

Let us know which QuickBooks Payroll product you're using, what you're trying to do and where you're getting stuck. If you're seeing an error message, including the error code can help other members and our experts understand what's happening.

Just remember not to share sensitive employee information, payroll credentials or personal details in a public Community post.