Scheduled vs. unscheduled payroll

Let me share some details about the scheduled payroll, FLH1.

QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) allows you to use pay schedules to run payroll and pay your employees. It helps manage your payroll and makes processing more efficient.

Here are the types of pay schedules you can assign your employees to:

• Weekly: Pay your employees every week on a specific, recurring day.
• Every other week or Bi-weekly: Pay your employees every two weeks.
• Twice a month or Semi-monthly: Pay your employees twice a month. The 1st pay can be in the middle of the month, and the 2nd is at the end.
• Monthly: Pay your employees once a month on a specific, recurring date. It makes 12 payouts a year.

Once you've decided which schedule to use, you can set it up in QBDT.

After that, you can use a scheduled or unscheduled payroll when creating your paychecks. The Scheduled payroll is paychecks you give your employees regularly. You can also add bonuses or other pay to these paychecks. While you select Unscheduled payroll when you may need to pay your employees bonuses, commissions, a final paycheck, or report fringe benefits outside your regular payroll schedule.

Here's how to create a scheduled payroll:

1. Go to the Employees menu, then Pay Employees, and select from the check types Scheduled Payroll, Unscheduled Payroll, or Termination Check.
   
2. Select the appropriate schedule, and click Start Scheduled Payroll.
3. Verify the Pay Period, Check Date, and QuickBooks Bank Account.
   
4. Click the employees you want to pay.
5. You can enter hours using the grid, or if you are using timesheets, you’ll see all their hours for this pay period already entered. To see everyone's paycheck details, select Open Paycheck Detail.
   
6. Select Save & Next to go to the next employee, or click Save & Close to go back to the Enter Payroll Information window.
   
7. Hit Continue.
   
8. Review the Check/Direct Deposit printing options.
9. Verify the amounts for each employee, and select Create Paychecks.
   
10. Print paychecks and print pay stubs now or later if desired.
    

Additionally, if you have QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted or direct deposit paychecks, send your payroll information and direct deposit paychecks to Intuit.

Let me know if you have other questions about payroll in QBDT. We're always here to help. Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for your reply. I already know how to do scheduled payroll; I was just wondering if there was a reason to not use it. Our previous payroll person wasn't using it.

I appreciate you getting back to us here in the Community, FLH1. Let me chime in and provide some information about your payroll concern in QuickBooks Desktop.

If you have a regular payroll schedule and want to streamline your payroll process, switching to scheduled payroll in QBDT can be beneficial. This allows you to automate your payroll runs and ensure that your employees are paid on time without having to manually enter payroll information each time.

However, if you have a more flexible payroll schedule or frequently make one-time payments, unscheduled payroll may be a better fit for your business. This allows you to easily enter payroll information as needed without being tied to a specific schedule.

Ultimately, the decision to switch from unscheduled to scheduled payroll in QBDT should be based on your business needs and preferences. If you're unsure which option is best for you, it may be helpful to consult with a payroll expert or accountant.

I'm just around the corner if you have any other payroll concerns in QBDT. Simply leave a reply below and I'll circle back to help you out. Keep safe always and have a great day ahead.