Run payroll in QuickBooks Online Payroll

You can create and run payroll for your employees in QuickBooks Online Payroll. This process involves entering employee hours, reviewing pay details, and submitting the payroll for processing.

This article explains the steps to run scheduled or unscheduled payroll for employees paid by direct deposit or paper check.

Prerequisites

• This article is for customers who use QuickBooks Online Core, Premium, or Elite Payroll.
• If you are using QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, check out Run payroll in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll.
• Before you can run payroll, you must Set up QuickBooks Online Payroll to pay and file your payroll taxes and forms.
• Ensure your employee information and tax settings are up to date.

For a better experience, open this article in QuickBooks Online. Launch side-by-side view .

Run payroll faster and make managing your team easier with QuickBooks Payroll.

Run scheduled payroll

Run scheduled payroll to pay your employees with regular paychecks. 

1. Go to All apps , then Payroll, then Employees (Take me there).
2. Select Run payroll.
3. Select the pay schedule you want to run, then select Continue.
4. Select or review the Pay period and Pay date.
5. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
6. Select the column, or select Actions, then Edit paycheck to enter your pay details. You can enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other necessary paycheck info.
7. If you use QuickBooks Time, select Review Approved Time.
8. Select Preview payroll.
9. Select or review the QuickBooks Bank account to track your payroll.
10. Select Preview payroll details or Submit payroll.
11. Select Close.

Run unscheduled payroll

Run unscheduled payroll to pay your employees with a bonus, commission, or a final paycheck. You can also use unscheduled payroll to report fringe benefits outside your regular payroll schedule.

1. Go to All apps , then Payroll, then Employees (Take me there).
2. Select the Run payroll ▼ dropdown, and select one of the following options: Bonus only, Commission only, or Fringe benefits only.
3. Based on your selection, you may be asked additional questions. Enter any info about taxes or paycheck calculations (if applicable).
4. When you’re ready, select Continue.
5. Select or review the pay period (if applicable) and pay date.
6. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
7. Select the column, or select Actions, then Edit paycheck to enter your pay details. You can enter hours, compensation, memos, or any other paycheck info.
8. If you use QuickBooks Time, select Review Approved Time.
9. Select Preview payroll.
10. Select or review the QuickBooks bank account to track your payroll.
11. Select Preview payroll details, then choose either:
    • Save for later
    • Submit payroll
12. Select Close.

Result

Your payroll is submitted for processing. Employees with direct deposit will be paid on the specified pay date. You can now access and distribute the pay stubs.

Next steps

• Print or reprint paychecks and pay stubs
• Understand the taxes and forms that payroll submits for you

Related links

• Run payroll reports
• Change your primary principal, payroll admin, or other payroll contact
• Set up your QuickBooks Time account in QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Online Payroll
• Set up Auto Payroll to pay your employees