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 Settings and select Payroll settings.
3. Go to Auto Payroll and select Edit ✎. Select the employees you want to include (only eligible employees will be available).
4. Select Save changes.
5. Review the confirmation details (including the number of employees and upcoming pay dates), then select 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 and select Employees.
2. Select Run Payroll. If there are multiple pay schedules, pick the right one.
3. Select Make updates to upcoming pay period.
4. Find the employee you need to edit and select Edit payroll payment.
5. Make the necessary changes and select Save.
6. Select 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, select Employees, then select Run Payroll.
2. Select Pay manually this period for the relevant employee.
3. (Optional) Add a note in the Memo column if needed.
4. (If reducing hours) Select Edit hours worked in the Actions column.
   Adjust hours in the Reduce total hours by box and select Apply.
5. Select 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 Settings and select Payroll settings.
2. Go to Auto Payroll and select Edit ✎.
3. Deselect employees from Auto Payroll. Untick the employees you want to remove.
4. Select Save your changes and review the confirmation.
5. Select 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.