Old stagnant accidentally created paycheck item stuck in "Create Paychecks" queue

Yes, there is a way, MikeinBlack. I'll be glad to show you how.

Once you ensure that there are no zero active employees assigned to the item. We can easily delete it in QuickBooks. Here's how:

1. From the Employees menu, go to the Payroll Center.
2. Select the Pay Employees tab.
3. Under the Create Paychecks table, select the schedule that you want to delete.
4. Choose the Payroll Schedules drop-down menu.
5. Click Delete Schedule. 
6. Once done, hit OK.

For more details about this process, please see this article: Set up and Manage Payroll Schedules.

Additionally, I've added these articles about managing paychecks in QuickBooks Desktop for your future reference:

• Create Paychecks.
• Delete or Void Employee Paychecks

Please come back and keep us posted on your progress in deleting the paycheck item. I'm here to ensure this gets resolved. Keep safe always!

Thank you for the response. Somehow I have this associated with my CURRENT employee (hired two months ago). I can't seem to remove them from this item. If I uncheck their name, it says I have to choose someone to pay and won't allow any modifications. Thanks!

Thanks for actively responding, @MikeinBlack. The reason for this warning message is that there's a payroll schedule in your payroll info section. 

If you don't want to use the schedule, you can delete the employee's profile. Here's how: 

1. Go to the Employees menu and select Employee Center.
2. Right-click on the name of the employee. If the employee isn't on the list, select All employees from the Active Employees dropdown.
3. Select Delete Employee, then OK to confirm.

Once done, follow the steps shared by my peer CharleneMae_F to delete the said payroll schedule. 

However, if the employee is associated with that payroll schedule, you'll have to select a name because you can't run payroll without an employee.

For future reference, read through this article: Set up and pay scheduled or custom (unscheduled) liabilities. It also helps you learn about setting reminders for scheduled and unscheduled liabilities in QuickBooks Desktop. 

Feel free to message again if you have additional concerns. You always have us around here in the Community. 

So, just to confirm, since my new employee is associated with this old entry, I must delete them as an employee completely, and then reenter all of their information as a new employee to remove this? I would guess I would just live with it rather than do that all over again... Thanks

So, just to confirm, I must delete my new employee completely out of the system to be able to delete this item, and then re-enter all of their information again, as if he were a new employee? Yikes, maybe not worth the trouble... Thanks.

Hi there, MikeinBlack.

Thanks for coming back to this thread

Yes, that's right. You may need delete the profile and payroll schedule to remove this draft item. Then, reenter the payroll information of your employee again.

In addition, I've included an article that will help you track your payroll transactions in QuickBooks: Customize payroll and employee reports.

If I can be of any additional assistance, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below. The Community always has your back.