Pay and file payroll taxes and forms electronically in QuickBooks Online Payroll

With QuickBooks Online Payroll, you have the flexibility to choose how you want your payroll taxes and filings handled. 

In this article, you'll learn how to:

• Complete your tax setup
• Confirm what and when you need to file
• E-pay your taxes
• E-file your tax forms

Step 1: Complete your tax setup

Before you can pay or file payroll taxes, make sure you complete your tax setup. You can update it in the Payroll tab by selecting Start in the Enter your tax info section. It should just take a few minutes to complete, and then we’ll notify you once you are active.

Step 2: Confirm what and when you need to file

Once you’ve signed up, you need to connect your bank account. To do this, you only need to follow the steps for setting up your direct deposit.

Note: You'll need to make sure sufficient funds are available when your payroll taxes are due and to create the tax payment.

Step 3: E-pay your taxes

We’ll send you emails when your taxes are coming due.

1. Go to Taxes, and select Payroll tax. 
2. Select Payments.
3. You’ll see a list of taxes due now under Action Needed. Taxes due later will show in Coming Up. You can select Filter to find the specific tax you want to pay faster. 
4. Select Pay on the tax you want to pay. You can make late payments to the CRA.
5. Make sure the Bank Account is the correct payroll account (from your chart of accounts)  in QuickBooks (this doesn’t impact the actual bank account you use). 
6. Review your payment date. You can select a different date if needed. 
7. Select E-pay. 
8. To review your payments made, select Payment History.

Note: If you need to record a tax payment you made outside of QuickBooks, see Record prior tax payments.

Step 4: E-file your tax forms

1. Make sure you paid all taxes related to the form you want to file (see Step 3). 
2. Go to Taxes, and select Payroll tax.
3. Select Filings. 
4. You’ll see your forms to file under Action Needed. Forms due later will show in Coming Up. You can select Filter to find the specific form you need faster. 
5. Select File on the form you want to file. 
6. Make sure the File Electronically box is selected.
7. Select Submit. 
8. You can see your filed form under Done and print it if needed. 

More about paying taxes with QuickBooks Online Payroll

Note the following when you’re paying your taxes online:

• Funds are directly withdrawn from your bank account two business days before payment date.
• You must approve e-payments by 5 PM PT, 2 business days before the payment date.
• If you see a payment showing in red on the Payments page, it's overdue. You can make late payments; however, you may still get penalties from Service Canada for late payments.
• You'll see upcoming tax payments in the Coming Up section. Once the liability period is over, they'll move to the Action Needed section.
• You can pay taxes due later, but before you do, be sure you don't have any changes to any payrolls in that liability period.

Note: Uncheck the Pay Electronically checkbox in the Approve Payment page to turn off e-Pay for a single payment.