Set up payment file settings in QuickBooks Advanced Payroll

Learn how to set up and manage your payment file settings so you can pay your employees electronically.

If you use BACS (Bankers’ Automated Clearing Services), you can make secure, electronic payments directly from your bank to your employees. In QuickBooks Online Advanced Payroll, you can set up and manage payment file settings for different bank accounts, and choose which one to use each time you run payroll.

Set up your payment file settings

You’ll first need to add the bank account you want to use for payroll payments. If you have multiple bank accounts, you can create separate payment file settings for each and select the one you need when processing a pay run.

Step 1: Add a bank account

1. From the left menu, select Payroll.
2. Select the Payroll Settings tab, then select Payment Settings.
3. Select Add to set up a bank account you'll use to pay your employees.
   • File Format (either standard BACS format or bank-specific)
   • Sort Code
   • Account Number
   • Account Name
   • Submission reference (description of the payroll payment appears on your employee’s bank statement)
   • Service User Number (SUN)
4. Select Save.

Step 2: Download your payment file

1. From the left menu, select Payroll.
2. Select the Pay Runs tab, then choose the relevant pay period.
3. In the Actions tab, select the Download Payment File ▼ dropdown.
   • If you have a single payment file, select Download Payment File.
   • If you have multiple payment files, select ⚙ Payment File Settings, then select a payment file to use.