Set up and manage Auto Payroll in QuickBooks Online Core Payroll

Before setting up Auto Payroll, ensure that:

✔ Payroll setup is complete, and at least one payroll run has been processed.
✔ Employees have an active status, salaried pay, and an assigned pay schedule.

How to turn on Auto Payroll:

1. Sign in to QuickBooks Online as the Primary Admin.
2. Go to Payroll Settings
   Click the Settings ⚙️ icon and select Payroll settings.
3. Enable Auto Payroll
   In the Auto Payroll section, click Edit ✎.
   Select the employees you want to include (only eligible employees will be available).
   Click Save changes.
4. Review the confirmation details (including the number of employees and upcoming pay dates), then click Done.

What happens next?

• You’ll get an email two business days before Auto Payroll runs, detailing payday information.
• Once payroll is processed, we’ll send you another email confirmation.
• You can log in anytime to view or print payslips.

You can update employee pay, deductions, or tax information before payroll is processed.

How to update payroll before it runs:

1. Go to Payroll > Employees.
2. Select Run Payroll. If there are multiple pay schedules, pick the right one.
3. Click Make updates to upcoming pay period.
4. Find the employee you need to edit and click Edit payroll payment.
5. Make the necessary changes and click Save.
6. Click Save & Preview Auto Payroll, then Save Auto Payroll.

If an employee enrolled in Auto Payroll needs to be paid separately (for example, a bonus or an adjustment), you can pause Auto Payroll for one pay period.

How to pay an employee manually:

1. Go to Payroll > Employees, then select Run Payroll.
2. Choose Pay Manually This Period for the relevant employee.
3. (Optional) Add a note in the Memo column if needed.
4. (If reducing hours)
   Click Edit hours worked in the Actions column.
   Adjust hours in the Reduce total hours by box and click Apply.
5. Click Preview Payroll, then Submit Payroll.

Auto Payroll will resume as normal in the next pay period.

If you want to stop Auto Payroll for one or more employees, follow these steps.

1. Go to Payroll Settings
   Click Settings ⚙️ and select Payroll settings.
2. Edit Auto Payroll settings
   In the Auto Payroll section, click Edit ✎.
3. Deselect employees from Auto Payroll
   Untick the employees you want to remove.
4. Save your changes and review the confirmation.
5. Click Done.

To keep payroll running smoothly, ensure all employee payments, tax filings, and required forms are up to date. Regularly reviewing your payroll settings can help prevent last-minute issues.