Is it possible to do manual payroll in Quickbooks online without paying for the Quickbooks payroll service?

Sarahw101 · ‎March 20, 2024

I'm used to doing manual payroll in a Quickbooks Desktop version and would like to avoid paying for Quickbooks payroll. Can I still do manual payroll in Quickbooks Online without paying for the Quickbooks Payroll Service?

GlinetteC · ‎March 20, 2024

I understand the need to enter and print your payroll checks in QuickBooks Online, Sarahw101.

In QuickBooks Online, the ability to do that is unavailable. QuickBooks Payroll is a separate service that provides payroll processing features, including the recording and printing of payroll checks, managing payroll tasks, calculating payroll taxes, issuing paychecks, and handling other payroll-related functions within QuickBooks Online.

If you consider subscribing to our payroll services, you can use these articles to help you achieve your tasks:

You can get back to us if you need further assistance managing your payroll or other concerns. I'll be here to help.

View solution in original post

4Gal · ‎March 20, 2024

You can register your payroll expenses as JE in QBO.

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/write-checks/manually-enter-payroll-p...

Sarahw101 · ‎March 20, 2024

But can I write a payroll check and print it -- all manually -- without paying for the payroll service in Quickbooks Online?

Anonymous · ‎March 20, 2024

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for sharing this information with us. Let me share some information on how to do a manual payroll in QuickBooks Online without paying a subscription.

Yes, you can track your paychecks manually if you're not subscribed to any payroll plans in QuickBooks Online. Some payroll services let you import paycheck data directly into QuickBooks. Before doing so, let's make sure to set up the following accounts:

Payroll Expenses: Wages
Payroll Expenses: Taxes
Payroll Liabilities: Federal Taxes (941/944)
Payroll Liabilities: Federal Unemployment (940)
Payroll Liabilities: [State] SUI/ETT
Payroll Liabilities: [State] PIT/SDI

If your service doesn't have this feature, we’ll show you how to manually track these payments as journal entries. This keeps your payroll and account data all in one place.

Here's how:

Go to the Gear > Chart of accounts.
Click the New button.
In the Account window, select the Account and Detail Type.
Enter the Name and Description.
Hit Save and Close.

I'll add these articles to get more insights on how you can run manually made payroll in QuickBooks: Run reports in QuickBooks Online.

You can also visit our page to learn how to buy preprinted checks from QuickBooks Checks Supplies.

You can count on me if you need anything else, especially with managing payroll in QuickBooks Online. Stay safe and hydrated, Thank you!

Sarahw101 · ‎March 20, 2024

My question is still not answered. Can I enter and print payroll checks via Quickbooks Online without paying for Quickbooks Payroll?

GlinetteC · ‎March 20, 2024

I understand the need to enter and print your payroll checks in QuickBooks Online, Sarahw101.

In QuickBooks Online, the ability to do that is unavailable. QuickBooks Payroll is a separate service that provides payroll processing features, including the recording and printing of payroll checks, managing payroll tasks, calculating payroll taxes, issuing paychecks, and handling other payroll-related functions within QuickBooks Online.

If you consider subscribing to our payroll services, you can use these articles to help you achieve your tasks:

You can get back to us if you need further assistance managing your payroll or other concerns. I'll be here to help.

Sarahw101 · ‎March 20, 2024

This is highly disappointing. There are thousands upon thousands of comments/complaints online about how Quickbooks and every other accounting software has now moved to a subscription model which is not budget friendly for small businesses. Quickbooks and other software have disempowered small businesses who want to keep their accounting simple and affordable by charging no less than 60-70 dollars USD per month for just one employee -- and more each month for every employee.

Desktop software used to provide a fixed cost that was manageable for small businesses. And you could do payroll manually with no additional cost.

Quickbooks and other accounting services have turned away from their customers who made them great, and are making it increasingly opportunistic. Once day, another service will offer what Quickbooks and others don't, and quick will be the downfall of all of you who gouge small business owners with your prices and subscriptions.

Otaluke · ‎March 27, 2024

@Sarahw101 . We are now fighting this same issue. Your final thoughts are dead on accurate. As a small business, Intuit's switch to forced online subscription and outrageous prices for basic accounting and payroll is highway robbery. As you said, we used to be able to manage a fixed expense with a perpetual desktop license and choose manual payroll or payroll subscription. Those pricing options were already escalating out of control and now subscriptions are forced upon us with no convenient way to do manual payroll. A small business can not withstand these excessive price hikes. QuickBooks used to be targeted for small businesses, now that they have a large market share, they have intentionally shut out the businesses that made them who they are. Hopefully somebody will fill the hole they left.

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Is it possible to do manual payroll in Quickbooks online without paying for the Quickbooks payroll service?