Get started with the Payroll Agent

Your Payroll Agent is an AI digital assistant designed to help prepare your payroll. It takes the manual work of data collection off your plate. This agent can understand natural language inputs from both you and your employees. This guide explains what the Payroll Agent does, eligibility requirements, and how to set it up.

What your Payroll Agent can do for you

• Collect employee hours worked, overtime, and tips via SMS or the QuickBooks Workforce app.
• Provide updates, verifies info, and spots any issues before running payroll. 
• Follow-up on discrepancies.
• Save a draft of your payroll in QuickBooks Online.
• Offer insights into the total gross pay and expense amounts for the payroll run.
• Run payroll after you give it your approval.

Prerequisites

You are eligible to use the Payroll Agent if your business meets the following criteria:

• Don’t use AutoPayroll.
• Have created at least one paycheck using QuickBooks Online Payroll Core, QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium, or QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite.

Create your payroll plan

To start using the Payroll Agent, you need to create a customized payroll plan. This plan determines the schedule for the agent to contact you and your employees.

1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product
2. Select Payroll Agent, then See How it Works to begin set up.
3. Select Get Started. Your Payroll Agent analyzes your past payrolls, employee data, and company setup to create a customized plan for you.
4. Select Review my proposed plan to see the detals
5. Next, follow the steps to personalize your plan for employees and yourself. You’ll be able to:
   • Review the list of enrolled employees and add any missing info.
   • Choose the days of the week when your Payroll Agent can contact employees.
   • Preview the message sent to employees.
   • Select whether employees will update by text message or the QuickBooks Workforce app.
   • Define how your Payroll admin will interact with your Payroll Agent.

Next Steps after setup

Once setup is complete, the following occurs:

1. Your Payroll Agent contacts your employees to request their consent for communication.
   • Note: If an employee doesn't provide consent, we won't contact them and their hours won't automatically populate in your payroll product.
2. After obtaining consent, the agent begins collecting payroll information according to the plan schedule.
   • Employees can correct submitted hours until the cutoff date for the pay period if necessary.

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