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Connect and manage QuickBooks Time with QuickBooks Online or Payroll

by Intuit12 Updated about 21 hours ago

Learn how to connect QuickBooks Time with your QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Online Payroll account. Set up your team, configure pay and tracking settings, and run payroll reports. Everything you need to manage time tracking in one place.

This article is for customers using QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Online Payroll who want to connect QuickBooks Time.

Get started with QuickBooks Time

If you're new to QuickBooks Time, here's how to launch your account and get it connected with QuickBooks Online or Payroll.

If you don’t already have QuickBooks Time:

  1. In QuickBooks Online, go to Settings and select Subscriptions and billing.
  2. Go to QuickBooks Time Tracking and select Find out more.
  3. Select QuickBooks Time Premium or Elite, then add it to your subscription or start a 30-day free trial.

To start setup:

  • Go to Time, select Overview, then select Go to classic QuickBooks Time.
  • QuickBooks Online will automatically transfer most information to your QuickBooks Time account. Some details may need to be set manually.

Note: If you don't see the option to launch QuickBooks Time, you may need to upgrade your Payroll account or contact our support team to integrate an existing QuickBooks Time account.


Set up payroll periods and overtime rules

To ensure accurate time tracking and payroll integration, you'll need to configure your pay schedule and overtime settings in QuickBooks Time.

If you're using QuickBooks Online Payroll, set your pay period there. Otherwise, follow these steps in QuickBooks Time:

  1. Go to Company Settings.
  2. Select Payroll & Overtime, then Pay Schedule.
  3. Select your Week Start and Pay Schedule.
  4. Select a recent closing date for payroll, then Save.

Payroll Period options:

  • Weekly: Every week, based on a closing date.
  • Every 2 weeks: Every two weeks.
  • Twice a month: On two specific days per month.
  • Every 4 weeks: Every 28 days.
  • Monthly: Once a month on a chosen date.
  • Custom: At least two defined custom end dates.

This setting impacts the Manual Time Card, Schedule add-on, and some payroll configurations.

To update it:

  1. Go to Company Settings.
  2. Go to Payroll & Overtime and select Pay Schedule.
  3. Change the Week Start to your preferred day, then select Save.

Configure overtime settings

Tailor how your business tracks overtime and integrates with payroll systems.

  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to Company Settings.
  2. Go to Payroll & Overtime and select Overtime.
  3. Adjust settings as needed, then select Save.

Important notes:

  • For more complex policies, select Use Pay Rate Engine to customise calculations.
  • If using QuickBooks Payroll, ensure the overtime pay type is enabled in Payroll for tracked overtime to export correctly.
  • You can update additional preferences in Company Settings later.

Add your team and set up time tracking options

Once QuickBooks Time is connected, you can import your team from QuickBooks Online and set up what items they can track time against.

  • In QuickBooks Time, select the QuickBooks menu, then select Import.
  • Team members added to QuickBooks Online will appear in the My Team section of QuickBooks Time.

To customise what team members track time against:

  1. In QuickBooks Time, select the QuickBooks menu, then select Preferences.
  2. Select your options:
    • Customers & sub-customers: Required for timesheets. Can be added or edited in either platform.
    • Service Items: Required on timesheets and must be selected before submission.
    • Billable yes/no choice: Mark time as billable. Required before clock-out if selected.
    • Class: Required on timesheets if enabled.

Changes are saved automatically. Items will sync between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Time depending on your selections.


Invite team members to track time

After importing your team, you'll need to invite them so they can begin using QuickBooks Time.

  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to My Team.
  2. Open the Add team members ▼ dropdown and select Send invitations.
  3. Select the team members you want to invite.
  4. Select Invite (#) Team members.

Once invited, your employees should:

  • Look out for a text invite.
  • Accept the invite.
  • Create a user ID and password (if they don’t have one).
  • Download the QuickBooks Workforce app to track time.

You and your team can select from various ways to track time. For more on tracking options, visit QuickBooks Time Tracking.


Run and use the payroll report in QuickBooks Time

With everything set up, you can now run payroll reports to review hours worked, download timesheets, and ensure accurate data flows into payroll.

  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to Reports and select Payroll Report.
  2. Set the Report Dates and any filters.
  3. Select Run Report.
  4. To view details: select Expand All or select + next to a team member’s name.
  5. To print: select the printer icon at the top, or right click the report and select Print.

Note: To show hours in HH:MM format instead of decimal, change this before selecting Run Report.

  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to Reports and select Payroll Report.
  2. Select your dates and filters, then Run Report.
  3. Select Open as PDF at the top of the report.
  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to Reports and select Payroll Report.
  2. Select your dates and filters, then Run Report.
  3. Select Download, then select your preferred spreadsheet format.
  4. (Optional) Print the spreadsheet from your spreadsheet application.

Add, edit, or delete timesheets from the payroll report

If you need to adjust time entries directly from a payroll report, here’s how to do it.

  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to Reports and select Payroll Report.
  2. Select your dates and filters, then Run Report.
  3. Next to the relevant team member, select + to expand details.
  4. Select + Add timesheet.
  5. Enter the timesheet details, then select Save.
  1. In QuickBooks Time, go to Reports and select Payroll Report.
  2. Select your dates and filters, then Run Report.
  3. Hover over the timesheet date you want to change.
    • To edit: select Edit, make changes, then select Save.
    • To delete: select Delete, then confirm by selecting Delete again.
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