Entering Standard Occupational Codes

Hello there, @IsFin.

I'm happy to help you enter the Standard Occupational Codes in QuickBooks Desktop. Before doing so, make sure to check the correct occupational code for each employee. Follow the steps on the website. Take note of the numerical codes assigned to the occupation to enter them in QuickBooks.

Here's how to set up employee's occupational codes:

1. Go to Employees, then click Payroll Setup.
2. Select Employee Setup, then choose Employee List.
3. In the Review our Employee list window, select an employee, then choose Edit.
4. Hit Next until the Setup occupational information window appears.
5. Choose the appropriate Occupational Code field and enter the appropriate code, then click Finish.
6. Repeat steps 3 to 5 for each applicable employee.

Here is an article for the detailed steps: Set up occupational codes for employees.

Additionally, you can visit this article to guide you in managing payroll schedules: Set up and manage payroll schedules.

Feel free to click the Reply button below if you have questions about payroll forms in QuickBooks Desktop. I'm always here to help. Have a great day.

I followed the steps, and the SOC field is not an available field.   Totally frustrating.  If the SOC field in not an available option in QB desktop, PLEASE just tell us.  

I am having the same issue.  There is no option to enter SOC in my quickbooks desktop.  How do I get it to appear??  I have followed all the instructions, and it's not an option!

There is no option to enter SOC in my quickbooks desktop.  How do I get it to appear??  I have followed all the instructions, and it's not an option!

There is no option for entering SOC followed everything. Please help. 

Followed all steps there is not place to enter SOC 

Having same issue

Hello, Steph65.

Thanks for raising your query for a SOC of your QuickBooks Desktop (QBO). You can enter or add the occupational codes under the Employment details.

QuickBooks continues to comply with government mandates regardless of your payroll subscription. The state listed below requires occupational codes:

• Alaska
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Washington
• West Virginia

To enter the occupational code for your employees, please ensure that the work location falls within the states that require it. You can edit or add a work location if it isn't in the state that requires occupational code, and a box will appear for you to enter the information. Go to the Employment details to add or edit a work location.

However, a possible reason why it didn't show the option to choose an occupational code, the state of your employee doesn't require an occupational code. If the state of your employee is a list of required states, make sure to set up the Address for their Employee Details. 

Additionally, you need to update your QBDT to the latest release, and the payroll tax table is also updated to the latest.

Feel free to comment below. I will be glad to help you. Have a great day.

South Carolina also requires the SOC codes, QuickBooks send me the message and I verified it online as well.  However, it is not showing up on the list of required states.  Is this why I am having trouble entering these codes?  I was told they need to be entered before March 31st.  Don't have a lot of time left to get this done. 

I recognize the importance of entering the Standard Occupation Code (SOC) for all your employees, Jody. Let's work together to enter the code in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

You're right, South Carolina is one of the states that are required to report the occupational codes effective for Quarter 1 of the year 2024, along with Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana, Washington, and West Virginia. To ensure you have the necessary information, kindly follow the steps provided by Ethel_A for the step-by-step procedure to set this up. You can also visit this link for more details: Set up occupational codes for employees.

If the Setup occupational information window doesn't show on your end, it could be due to the QBDT version or the payroll tax table you're currently using. To start, let's ensure that your program is updated to the latest release so that you have the latest components in the program. Here's how you can do it: 

1. Go to the Help menu, then select Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Select Update Now, then Get Updates.
3. Close and reopen QuickBooks to install the update again.

Once you have updated the program, get the latest tax table updated to fix any odd behaviors when running payroll. Follow these steps to update the tax table:

1. Go to Employees, then select Get Payroll Updates.
2. To know your tax table version:
   • Check the number next to You are using tax table version:.
   • See the latest payroll news and updates to identify if it’s the correct version.
   • To find more details on your tax table version, select Payroll Update Info.
3. To get the latest tax table, select Download Entire Update, then click Update. 

However, if the same thing happens, I recommend reaching out to our Customer Support team for further assistance to fix the issue. You can also request a screen-sharing session so a representative can further review your setup. 

Furthermore, I'll be sharing this article that can help you manage your payroll in QuickBooks: Set up and manage payroll schedules.

If there's anything else I can help you accomplish, or if you have more questions managing your employee or have other queries about the product. We'll be here to assist you further. Stay safe!

I got it.  Tell people After your go into payroll setup then to employee list then edit, click next until you get to the tax section. Then go to the state tax and down to the additional state details.  That is where you will find the occupational codes. 

the basic instructions you've provided don't match up with the options available in the software.  I'm trying to add occupational codes and there is no place for this. I'm in SC.

I appreciate your effort in following the suggested steps for adding occupational codes, AMCC. I see how important this is for your business.

Since the option or place to add the codes did not show up on your end, I recommend you get in touch with our technical support team. They can arrange a screen-sharing session to review your setup and guide you through setting up occupational codes for your employees.

Here's how you can contact them:

1. Go to the Help menu and select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
2. Select Contact Us.
3. Type a short description of your issue and concern in the box provided, then click Continue.
4. Sign in to your Intuit account, select Continue, and then Continue with my account.
5. You'll receive a single-use code in your email; enter the code and select Continue.
6. Select Have us call you.

For future reference, if you want to have an overview of your payroll totals, including employee taxes or contributions and balances, you can run these reports: 

• Run payroll reports 
• Run Payroll Liability Balances Report

Click the reply button below if you have additional questions and clarifications about setting up occupational codes in QuickBooks. As always, I'm here to assist you.

Cheers to Jodydenham!  It was the most simple and easy way to fix my problem!  Thank you!!!

I am having the exact same issue...

Hi there, TJ5.

Since you received the same issue as other users, you may follow the troubleshooting techniques offered by my colleagues above. However, if you still can't enter the Standard Occupational Codes, let me route you to the appropriate support team to assist you further on this matter.

I recommend contacting our QuickBooks Payroll Suppor Team. They're the best support group for such inquiries as they can request account information. This allows them to investigate why you're unable to set up occupational codes for your employees and fix it as soon as possible.

Here's how to reach them:

1. Go to Help and select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
2. Choose Contact Us.
3. Give a brief description of your issue with entering SOC, then select Continue.
4. Sign in to your Intuit account and select Continue. Then, Continue with my account.
5. We'll email you a single-use code. Enter your code and select Continue.
6. Choose to chat with us or Have us call you.

In case you need steps on how you can run a specific report that gives you the total payroll wages, taxes, deductions, and contributions, you can read this article: Create a payroll summary report in QuickBooks.

Let me know in the comment section if you have follow-up questions about occupational codes or how the call goes. I'm willing to help you again. Keep safe, TJ5.

on the tax details, "additional state employment details" dropdown it is there

SEE ABOVE POST FOR THE REAL ANSWER (Thank you Jodydenham!!):

I wanted to let folks know that I was able to find where the SOC is entered.  We use QB Contractors 22 version.  Once in single user mode, as stated below, you must go to Employees, then Payroll set up.  Once in, select Employees, then Employee list.  You will see ALL your employees listed, active and not active.  It will only update for employees with the "Status" marked as "Green".  You then click on each employee.    Under "Action", right side of each employee, hit the down arrow and select "Edit".  Hit the "Next" button, until you get to "Tax details".  At the bottom of this page, you will see State W-4 details.  There are 2 options, click the button under "Additional state employment details".  The Occupational Code is entered here.  There is a HUGE drop-down list for you to find the correct one.  Once you found the correct code, select it and hit "Next".  Then "Done".  Hope this helps.

So only an administrator can do this? Why isn't it somewhere in the employee profile so that the Payroll/HR person can add this