Get help if you’re over a direct deposit limit in QuickBooks Payroll

Learn what you can do if you get an error message about direct deposit limits when you process payroll in QuickBooks Online and Desktop Payroll.

For your security, we set limits on how much money you can send via direct deposit. When your direct deposit amount is higher than usual, you may get a message: "Your payment amounts are much larger than usual. If you still want to make these payments by direct deposit, request a direct deposit limit increase."

Here's what to do so you can make sure your team gets paid by direct deposit.

In this article, you'll learn how to:

• Understand direct deposit limits
  • In QuickBooks Online Payroll
  • In QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
• Find out what your direct deposit limits are
  • In QuickBooks Online Payroll
  • In QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
• Request a direct deposit increase
  • In QuickBooks Online Payroll
  • In QuickBooks Desktop Payroll
• If you need to pay employees today
  • In QuickBooks Online Payroll
  • In QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

Step 1: Understand direct deposit limits

Direct deposit limits are set per payroll.

QuickBooks Online Payroll

• Per payroll means the total amount of direct deposits for all your employees or contractors paid in a 6-day period (including weekends) from the date of payroll submission.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

• Per payroll means the total amount of direct deposits for all your employees or contractors paid in a 6-day period (including weekends) from the date of payroll submission.
• Per person means the direct deposit amount for one employee or contractor paid in a 14-day period (including weekends) from the date of payroll submission.

Step 2: Find out what your direct deposit limits are

QuickBooks Online Payroll

For QuickBooks Online Payroll products, you can find your direct deposit limit amounts in your Payroll settings.

1. Select Settings ⚙️, then Payroll settings.
2. Scroll to the Direct deposit section. You'll see your limits per payroll.

Note: To see this section, you'll have to set up payroll direct deposit first.

You may also contact us for your direct deposit limit amounts.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

If you use QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, contact us for your direct deposit limit amounts.

Step 3: Request a direct deposit limit increase

QuickBooks Online Payroll

1. Go to Settings ⚙, then Payroll settings.
2. From Direct deposit, select Edit ✎.
3. Select Request limit increase.
4. Enter the amount you need and the type of increase.
5. Select Done.
6. Select Save, then Done.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

Submit an online request to increase your direct deposit security limit. Additional documentation such as bank statements may be required. You can upload these documents to the request form.

Typically, requests are reviewed within 2 business days. We'll email you the results. You may be asked to provide additional info like bank statements.

If you need to pay employees today

Pay some or all of your workers with a paper cheque.

Note: If you’re going to give paper cheques to your employees and contractors, make sure you turn off the direct deposit option when running a payroll. Follow the steps below to turn off direct deposit:

QuickBooks Online Payroll

For employees: Turn off direct deposit for an employee.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll

See Change a direct deposit paycheque to a paper paycheque.