QuickBooks HelpQuickBooksHelpIntuit

Introducing QuickBooks Core Payroll: your new payroll experience

by Intuit44 Updated 2 months ago

Standard Payroll is being replaced by Core Payroll, a solution that is designed on a powerful new platform that provides a better experience and enables us to deliver features faster.

This article will guide you through everything you need to know before and after moving to QuickBooks Core Payroll.

What do I need to do before moving?

Your Standard Payroll plan will continue as normal before  you are automatically moved over to the new payroll platform on your billing day of the month. We will keep you informed and send reminders via email as well as messaging in QuickBooks to help ensure a smooth transition with all your historical data made available to download.

NOTE: When you get a message in QuickBooks Online please ensure your submissions to NEST and HMRC are completed and kept up to date.

What do I need to do after moving?

Your Standard Payroll plan will continue as normal until you are automatically moved over to the new payroll platform on your billing day of the month. We will keep you informed and send reminders via email as well as messaging in QuickBooks to help ensure a smooth transition with all your historical data made available to download.

  1. After moving to Core Payroll you will be asked to enter your main payroll contact and reconnect NEST automated submissions if you have NEST pension schemes
  2. Invite all your employees to Workforce so employees can access their payslips in one place rather than across multiple emails. Payslips can still be downloaded and saved in a PDF format. If an employee was added in Standard Payroll but did not accept the invite before migrating to Core Payroll, the employee will need to be re-invited.

If you manage CIS suffered within payroll then please re-enter your UTR number by selecting Company Settings, next Payroll Settings then finally UK tax.

  1. No Duty Start Date in Standard Payroll means the date will have been automatically calculated in Core Payroll post conversion. If the Duty Start Date calculated by Core Payroll is incorrect, please change it before running payroll. If payroll is run with an incorrect Duty Start Date, then the pay run(s) will need to be deleted, next update the Duty Start Date and rerun payroll. You can update your Duty Start Date by selecting Company Settings, next Payroll Settings and finally Workplace pension.
  2. Missing PAYE and or Accounts Office references after converting will apply to a very small number of customers so please check this by selecting Company Settings, next Payroll Settings then finally UK tax.
  3. Verify your pensionable pay items to ensure these are marked correctly before you run payroll.
  • Historical data is available to download in Core Payroll. Any current tax year payruns will be available at an employee level but are static and cannot be amended. Any corrections should take place in the following payrun
    • If your migration has been completed but you receive an error when attempting to download the data, please try again later
  • Payslips are not available to email. Employees should sign up to Workforce in order to view and download payslips. Employees will be notified via email if there are payslips available in Workforce
  • Journal entries  are available in the search function of QBO, it will show the transaction name as Payroll Payment
    • You can not edit these journal entries, so if you need to make changes you should enter additional journals
  • FPS submissions are automatically available for customers who have migrated and had the setting enabled in Standard
  • If there are no payments due in the period, do not run payroll. The EPS will automatically generate post the 6th of the following month
  • CIS suffered needs to be manually entered on a monthly basis via Payroll Settings in the Gear icon
  • Previous P60's are available to download
  • Reports are available on screen, in Excel and PDF
  • Pension filings are now stored with the Tax Centre rather than Pay History
  • There are no notifications for tax code refreshes but they can be seen in the Employee record
  •  A separate FPS will be created for leavers
  • Overtime x1.0, x1.5, x2.0 are supported
  • Proration is supported for starters and statutory payments
  • Unpaid leave is not supported
  • Pay history is found in the Employee Record and payruns can be deleted per employee rather than complete payruns where previously the whole pay run needed to be deleted

Why the change from Standard Payroll?

We're phasing out Standard Payroll and replacing it with Core Payroll. This change will allow us to roll out new features more quickly, giving you an even better experience.

I can see the message "We're moving you to QuickBooks Core Payroll'" what should I do?

We'll move you to Core Payroll outside UK business working hours. You should expect to regain access to payroll at 9am, or shortly thereafter the following morning.

Why have I not moved to Core Payroll when I was told I would?

We schedule conversions from Standard to Core Payroll and message everyone in advance. Sometimes migrations do not complete, and as such are postponed to the following month. Reasons for postponement can include payroll not yet being in the current tax year or outstanding submissions that need sent to NEST or HMRC.

How will I be moved to QuickBooks Core Payroll?

Don’t worry, we’ll let you know in advance before moving you to Core Payroll. The transition will happen overnight, and by the next morning, you’ll have access to Core Payroll.

How long will the move to Core Payroll take?

We’ll carefully move customers on specific dates during the night. In some cases, the move may be completed between 8:00-9:00 am the next day.

Will I have to learn Payroll again?

No, once you’ve moved to Core Payroll, you’ll find a familiar look and navigation. While there may be a few changes, we’ll make sure to document them before moving day.

We’ll send you a link to this information, but feel free to bookmark the page and check back whenever you need.

What do I need to do now?

Great news! You don’t need to do anything at the moment. Just bookmark this article and keep an eye out for an email and an in-product alert closer to moving day.

Will all my data be the same?

Your year-to-date (YTD) data will include all payruns and calculations up to the current tax year. 

However, previous payruns within your current PAYE year will be “static” and cannot be changed. We’ll remind you closer to the move date, but it’s a good idea to doublecheck that your payruns are correct. 

If any changes need to be made, we’ll be here to help you correct them in future pay runs or you can use the HMRC PAYE tools if necessary.

Is there anything that won’t move from Standard to Core Payroll?

We’ll be moving all of your data to Core Payroll. If you’ve been using QuickBooks Standard Payroll for a while, any data, forms or reports from previous years beyond the current year will also be moved and made available in a secure area within Core Payroll. We’ll provide you with more details on this soon.

How can I see what will be different before I move to Core Payroll?

We’ll make sure there’s plenty of information available for you to refer to both before and after you’ve moved to Core Payroll. The key information will be added to this help article, so be sure to bookmark it so you can refer back to it later.

Can I change the date of my move?

Unfortunately, no. The move to Core Payroll is triggered by your billing date which cannot be changed.

I'm an accountant onboarding clients, will the first-time use process be different?

Setting up Core Payroll will be slightly different, but it will include all the important information needed to quickly run your clients’ first payroll.

What will be different about running payroll?

While the overall look and feel will be very familiar, there may be a few changes. However, running payroll itself in Core Payroll will be extremely similar to running payroll in Standard Payroll.

What does this mean?

If you’re currently on our Standard Payroll plan, we’ll be upgrading you to Core Payroll. We want to make this transition as seamless as possible for you. As we get closer to the transfer date, we’ll provide guides to help you along the way. 

QuickBooks Online Payroll Standard

Sign in now for personalized help

See articles customized for your product and join our large community of QuickBooks users.