Create and run your payroll

Step 1: Assign a pay schedule to your employees

We recommend using pay schedules to make running your regular payroll more efficient. If you haven’t already, set up and add a payroll schedule for your employees.

Step 2: Create your payroll payments and send your payroll

Next, you’ll need to create your paper payroll payments or bank transfers, then send them to us for processing.

If you’ve set up a payroll schedule, you can create a scheduled payroll or an unscheduled payroll

• Scheduled payroll: Payroll payment you give your employees regularly. You can also add bonuses or other pay to these payroll payments. You'll have a routine pay period and pay date based on the frequency you choose.
  • Note: With QuickBooks Payroll, you can set up and manage pay periods for your employees on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Unscheduled payroll: You may need to pay your employees bonuses, commissions, a final payroll payment, or report benefits outside your regular payroll schedule.

Create and send a scheduled payroll

1. Go to Payroll and select Employees (Take me there).
2. Select Run payroll.
3. If applicable, select your desired payroll schedule, then Continue.
4. Select or review the Pay period and Pay date.
5. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
6. Select the column, or select Actions ⋮, then Edit payroll payment to enter your pay details. You can enter regular pay hours, bonus, compensation, memos, or any other necessary payroll payment info.  
7. Select Preview payroll.
8. Select or review the QuickBooks Chart of account to track your payroll.
9. Select Preview payroll details, Save for later or Submit payroll.
10. Select Close.

Create and send an unscheduled payroll

1. Go to Payroll and select Employees (Take me there).
2. Select Run payroll.
3. Select or review the Pay period (if applied) and Pay date.
4. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
5. Enter Regular pay, Overtime, Double overtime, Bonus, Compensation, Memo or select Actions ⋮, then Edit payroll payment to enter other necessary pay details.
6. Select Preview payroll.
7. Select or review the QuickBooks Chart of account to track your payroll.
8. Select Preview payroll details, Save for later, or Submit payroll.
9. Select Close.

Save time creating your payroll payments and running your payroll:

• Set up your QuickBooks Time account in QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Online Payroll