Create and run your payroll

QuickBooksHelp · ‎December 10, 2018

Learn how to create direct deposit or paper paychecks and send them for processing in QuickBooks payroll.

Hurray, it’s almost payday! Which means it’s time for you to run your payroll so you can get your team paid.

We’ll guide you through the steps to create your paychecks and send them to us for processing payroll taxes and direct deposits in QuickBooks Online Payroll, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, or Intuit Online Payroll.

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.

Note: Not sure which payroll service you have? Here's how to find your payroll service.

QuickBooks Online Payroll

Create and send a scheduled payroll

Go to the Payroll menu, then select Employees.
Select Run Payroll.
Select your desired payroll schedule, then Continue.
Select or review the QuickBooks Bank account to track your payroll, the Pay period and Pay date.
Select the employees you'd like to pay.
Enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other necessary paycheck info.
Select Preview payroll.
Select Preview payroll details or Submit payroll.
Select Finish payroll.

Create and send an unscheduled payroll

Go to the Payroll menu, then select Employees.
Select the ▼ dropdown, and select one of the following options: Bonus only, Commission only or Fringe benefits only.
Select As net pay or As gross pay.
Enter any info about taxes or paycheck calculations (if applicable).
Select or review the QuickBooks bank account to track your payroll, the pay period and pay date.
Select the employees you'd like to pay.
Enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other paycheck info as necessary.
Select Preview payroll.
Select Preview payroll details, Save for later or Submit payroll.
Confirm the amounts and payment methods and select Finish Payroll.

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

Save time creating your paychecks and running your payroll:

QuickBooks Desktop 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.

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
Select the appropriate schedule, and select Start Scheduled Payroll.
Verify the Pay Period Ends date, Check Date, and QuickBooks Bank Account.
Select the employees you want to pay.
You can enter hours using the grid, or to see everyone's paycheck details, select Open Paycheck Detail.
Select Save & Next to go to the next employee, or select Save & Close to go back to the Enter Payroll Information window.
Select Continue.
Review the Check/Direct Deposit printing options.
Verify the amounts for each employee, and select Create Paychecks.
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.

Intuit Online Payroll

Go to Payday.
Select a Pay Schedule if you have more than one.
At Check Type, select the type of check you’re creating then select Go.
Select the right payroll:
- For scheduled payroll, select Regular Check.
- For unscheduled payroll, select Bonus Checks, Commission or Fringe benefits, and enter the additional info about taxes or paycheck calculations.
Select the employees you'd like to pay.
Enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other necessary paycheck information.
Select Create Paychecks.
Confirm the amounts and payment methods, and select Approve Paychecks.

Tip: For next steps, you can print your paychecks, or pay your payroll taxes. If you're interested in using a direct deposit, you easily pay employees and contractors.