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

Prerequisites

• Not sure which payroll service you have? Here's how to find it.
• If you are using QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, check out Run payroll in QuickBooks Desktop Payroll. 
• Before you can run payroll, you must set up payroll.
• Ensure your employee information and tax settings are up to date. 

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Run payroll

Use these steps to run a scheduled payroll or unscheduled payroll to pay your employees. 

Scheduled payroll

Run scheduled payroll to pay your employees with regular paychecks. 

Follow this link to complete the steps in product 

1. Select Run payroll.
2. Choose the pay schedule you want to run, then select Continue.
3. Select or review the Pay period and Pay date.
4. Select the employees you'd like to pay.
5. 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.
   • If you use QuickBooks Time, select Review Approved Time.
6. Select Preview payroll.
7. Select or review the QuickBooks Bank account to track your payroll.
8. Select Preview payroll details or Submit payroll.
9. Select Close.

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. 

Follow this link to complete the steps in product 

1. Select the Run payroll ▼ dropdown, and select one of the following options: Bonus only, Commission only, or Fringe benefits only.
2. Based on your selection, you may be asked additional questions. Enter any info about taxes or paycheck calculations (if applicable). 
3. When you’re ready, select Continue. 
4. Select or review the pay period (if applicable) 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 paycheck info.
   • If you use QuickBooks Time, select Review Approved Time.
7. Select Preview payroll.
8. Select or review the QuickBooks bank account to track your payroll.
9. Select Preview payroll details, the choose either:
   • Save for later
   • Submit payroll
10. 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. 
• Set up QuickBooks Online Payroll to pay and file your payroll taxes and forms

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