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Intuit

Get started with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

Learn the info needed and process behind how to set up your new QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Basic, Enhanced, or Assisted service.

Pay your team quickly, accurately, and on time with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll. You’ll need to complete a few tasks to get started.  Here’s a handy guide and videos to help you get set up.

Step 1: Activate your payroll subscription

Once you purchase your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Basic or Enhanced Payroll annual subscription, you need to activate it.  The steps to activate depend on if you purchased it online, by phone, or from a retail store.

If you purchased QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted, follow the steps in Enter your payroll service key.  Then you’ll activate your monthly payroll subscription at the end of the setup process with a QuickBooks expert.

Step 2: Complete the online application/create a Payroll PIN (QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted only)

In this task, you’ll connect your bank account so you can use direct deposit and we can pay and file your payroll taxes.  

Step 3: Complete your payroll setup tasks

In these tasks, you’ll add your employees, set up your federal and state payroll taxes, and enter any paychecks and tax payments you’ve already paid this year.

We know it takes time to get your payroll info into QuickBooks.  So the setup is designed to allow you to add info at your convenience and save as you go. 

If you use QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted, you can get help from a setup expert to complete these tasks and activate your service. 

To get to the setup tasks: 

  1. Open your QuickBooks company file.
  2. Select Employees, then Payroll Setup

Step 4: Activate your payroll service and sign your payroll authorization forms (QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted only)

Once you’ve completed your setup tasks, contact us and a setup expert will review your setup to make sure everything is set up correctly for you to start creating paychecks.  Then they’ll help you activate your service.

Once you’re active, we’ll send the principal officer an email with payroll authorization forms attached.  These forms need to be signed by the principal officer and sent back to us as soon as possible so we can pay your taxes and file your forms.