Payroll

Congratulations on taking on the payroll duties, Jdbhomes2014.

Currently, we're unable to provide information about the major differences between QuickBooks Desktop and Peachtree. However, I can provide an overview to help you understand what to expect and how to prepare in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is designed to simplify payroll processing. It includes features that automate tasks you currently perform manually, making payroll processing faster and easier.

It can calculate, file, and pay federal, state, and local payroll taxes directly through the software, depending on your payroll subscription (Enhanced or Assisted Payroll). It also generates forms such as 941, W-2, and W-3, and includes direct deposit functionality, allowing for electronic payments to employees.

After purchasing and including the QuickBooks Desktop Payroll subscription, it is necessary to activate it. You can find detailed instructions on activating payroll and completing the payroll setup, including how to add employees, enter pay items, deductions, paid time off (PTO), taxes, and pay history in the article: Get started with QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Enhanced.

As you are switching mid-year, it is crucial to enter the previous payroll history for each employee. If you’ve paid taxes for your previous payroll, you will need to enter those payments. Refer to this page: Add payroll info to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll when you already paid employees this year.

Once everything is good, create a paycheck and process payroll for your employees.

Please let me know if you have any other concerns regarding your employee payroll, Jdbhomes2014.

@jdbhomes2014 

Which QB Desktop year version do you run?

I am currently running on Destop Pro Plus 2024. I have all my employees already in my system as i enter the checks i do at the accountants, but not in detail like i will have to. I have to upgrade in April but i am not going to start doing payroll on it til Jan 2027 so i start a new year. 

What should you upgrade in April? Or do you mean you need to renew your QB Desktop license in April?

Yes i am up for renewal and I am going with a different one. I think I will be upgrading to the Enterprise Silver or Gold with the payroll included. I just haven't done any payroll in QB yet. Should I find a class for it or is it simple to just watch a video?

I recommend contacting @Fiat Lux - ASIA directly via email, and they can help you renew your license until December 2026 to reduce costs. You can then decide to upgrade to Enterprise Silver + Payroll Mate or Enterprise Gold in January 2027.

Hi there, jdbhomes2014. Video tutorials are easy to follow and are great for simple payroll tasks. If you’re handling more complex needs or prefer tailored guidance, a class may be the better choice.
 

The Silver plan is a cost-effective option that provides essential payroll and business management tools, making it ideal for smaller businesses or those seeking simplicity in daily operations. 

On the other hand, the Gold plan offers everything in Silver, advanced features like detailed reporting for deeper business insights, more integrations to connect with other systems, and priority support. Making it ideal for businesses that are expanding or need additional features. 

You can also explore the pricing of the plans to determine which one is the best fit for your business.

Additionally, you can refer to this article for step-by-step guidance on processing your employees' payroll: Run payroll in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.

Hit the Reply button if you have follow-up questions.