Set up and manage your Auto Payroll

QuickBooks Online Payroll saves you time by automatically making paycheques for your salaried and hourly employees who work a set number of hours. Auto Payroll works for employees paid by direct deposit or paper cheque.

For a better experience, open this article in QuickBooks Online Launch side-by-side view

We’ll show you how to:

• What you’ll need
• Make a one-time change to an upcoming auto paycheque
• Pay an employee manually for one pay period

This feature isn’t available in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

What you’ll need

Before you can set up Auto Payroll, you must complete your initial payroll setup and run your first payroll.

Your employees must also meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• Have an active employment status.
• Be paid a fixed salary, or be an hourly employee with default hours set.
• Be assigned to a pay schedule.
• Have complete TD1 tax information in their profile.

Auto Payroll isn't available for employees paid by commission only, inactive, or hourly employees with varying hours each pay period.

Set default hours for ‌hourly employees

If you have hourly employees who work the same hours each work day, set their default hours to make them eligible for Auto Payroll.

1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product
2. Select your employee.
3. From Base pay, select Start or Edit.
4. Enter the Hours per day and Days per week.
5. Select Save.

Add or remove eligible employees from Auto Payroll

You must be the Primary Admin to manage Auto Payroll settings.

1. Go to Settings and select Payroll settings.
2. In the Auto Payroll section, select the edit icon .
3. Select Select employees for Auto Payroll and select the employees you want to enroll in Auto Payroll.
4. Select Save changes.
5. Review the confirmation display for the total number of employees and important dates related to your Auto Payroll processing.
6. Select Done.

Once your employees are enrolled, you’ll receive an email with the details of your upcoming payday, 2-business days before Auto Payroll processes. You’ll get a second email after your Auto Payroll has been processed.

Make a one-time change to an upcoming auto paycheque

You can edit an employee’s pay or tax information for an upcoming payroll run. Changes must be made 3 business days before the cheque date, by 8 PM ET.

1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product
2. Select Run payroll.
   Note: If there are multiple pay schedules, select the one you want and select Continue.
3. Select Make updates to upcoming pay period.
4. From the Actions column, select the more icon , then select Edit paycheque.
5. Edit the payroll items, then Save.
6. Select Save & preview Auto Payroll, then select Save Auto Payroll.

Pay an employee manually for one pay period

If you need to pay an employee outside of the normal schedule, you can pause Auto Payroll for a single pay period. It'll resume on the next scheduled pay run.

1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product
2. Select Run payroll.
   Note: If there are multiple pay schedules, select the one you want and select Continue.
3. Select Pay manually this period on the employees you wish to pay manually.
4. Enter Pay date and edit any pay items for this payroll.
5. Select Preview payroll, then select account from the Chart of account ▼ dropdown.
6. Select Submit payroll.

Money movement services are provided by Intuit Canada Payments Inc.

Results

Once Auto Payroll is set up, you will receive an email two business days before your payday with details of the upcoming pay run. A second confirmation email is sent after Auto Payroll has been processed.

Related links

• Get started with Online Payroll
• Add your new employee to QuickBooks Online Payroll
• Set up and manage payroll schedules