A: Basic Payroll makes it easy to pay employees yourself within QuickBooks and work with your accountant on tax forms.†
Run payroll in just a few clicks. Each payday, simply enter employees' hours, and Basic Payroll instantly calculates paychecks. You can easily print paychecks yourself, or use convenient the convenient Intuit QuickBooks Direct Deposit solution (additional fees apply). Intuit Payroll's team of compliance professionals works with tax authorities to help keep your payroll tax rates accurate and up-to-date.
Basic Payroll does not include any tax forms. However, we make it easy to share data with your tax preparer, so you can work together on forms and filings.
If you need help, you won't waste time on hold. You'll get free callback support from payroll specialists for setup and usage questions. You can easily schedule an appointment at a time that's convenient for you, or have us give you a ring as soon as possible — which is usually within 30 minutes. Phone support is available weekdays from 6AM to 6PM Pacific Time.1
A: Since Basic Payroll works within QuickBooks accounting software, your data is already integrated, so you never have to export data or enter it in more than one place. Combined with QuickBooks, Basic Payroll offers an easy, all-in-one solution for managing both your business finances and your payroll.
A: Yes, you can start using Basic Payroll anytime.
If you do start up midyear and have already paid employees, you will have to enter your prior payroll data when you start using Basic Payroll so that your calculations are correct throughout the rest of the year. Our step-by step guide takes you through the process of entering your prior payroll data. If you're just starting to pay employees, you don't have to worry about any prior payroll data.
A: If you need help, Basic Payroll offers free callback support for setup and usage questions from payroll specialists. Submit your question online and a support specialist will call you back — usually within 30 minutes. We don't make you waste time on hold. Or, you can also easily schedule an appointment at a time that's convenient for you. Phone support is available weekdays from 6AM to 6PM Pacific Time. Pacific Time.1
Additionally, you'll have 24/7 access to our online Payroll Answer Center, where you'll find helpful tips and answers to even your most specific payroll questions.2
A: Try Basic Payroll. We're confident you'll like it. But if you're not completely satisfied, contact us within 60 days of purchase for a full refund of the purchase price.3
A: Subscribing to Basic Payroll unlocks the payroll features that are already in your QuickBooks software. Once you've signed up, Basic Payroll helps you get started quickly with a step-by-step guide for setting up your payroll. You'll enter your employees' wages or salaries, your company's and employees' payroll tax information, and your prior payroll data if needed.
The time it takes you to set up will depend on the number of employees you have and what benefits you offer. Our setup is designed to be quick and easy so you can start running payroll as soon as possible.
A: Basic Payroll requires QuickBooks 2006 or newer, or QuickBooks Simple Start 2008 or newer.
The federal government also requires every person or company paying wages or salaries to have an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Employers must include it on all federal forms, returns, and tax deposit coupons. To apply for an EIN, visit the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov for more information.
Basic Payroll requires Internet access so that you can download the latest updates for your payroll tax rates.
A: All you need to do is simply enter employees' hours, and Basic Payroll will generate paychecks. It instantly calculates earnings, payroll taxes, and deductions for you. You can easily pay your employees three different ways: print checks yourself, hand-write them, or use convenient Direct Deposit (additional fees apply).
With Basic Payroll, you're in control of when you pay employees. You can set up each individual employee to be paid on whatever pay frequency you wish.
A: Yes, Basic Payroll can handle both employees you pay on an hourly basis, as well as those you pay a salary. Basic Payroll also handles bonuses, commissions, and other wage types.
Basic Payroll handles overtime with ease. You can set it up to do time-and-a-half, double-time, or any custom overtime pay you'd like.
A: Yes. Basic Payroll supports QuickBooks company files with up to 350 employees. Performance may slow significantly when processing files containing more than 100 employees, depending on your computer's processor speed. Upgrading your hardware or using QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions will improve performance. You can add or delete employees from Basic Payroll at any time, with no fees.
A: Yes. You can use QuickBooks (without Basic Payroll) to handle 1099 contractors. Use your QuickBooks accounting software to set up contractors as vendors, write them checks, and generate 1099s at the end of the year.
Forms 1099-MISC and 1096 require QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. (They are not available in QuickBooks Simple Start.) Please note: Direct Deposit is not available for 1099 contractors.
A: Yes. Use our convenient Direct Deposit (additional fees apply) feature to have employees' pay transferred straight to their bank accounts — no checks to sign, no trip to the bank required. You don't even have to be in the office on payday anymore, because you can schedule deposits up to 45 days in advance.
After you have prepared your payroll, you simply send the data to us from within QuickBooks. Send it to us by 5 PM Pacific Time at least two business banking days before the paycheck date.
You can set up or remove an employee from Direct Deposit anytime you want. Not all employees have to be on Direct Deposit, either. You can specify that checks be direct deposited into up to two accounts per employee.
Plus, you can use Direct Deposit for expense reimbursements and bonus checks.
A: For only $0.99 per paycheck, you can enjoy hassle-free paydays. The best part is that you pay only when you use the service, so you stay in control.
Note: Some banks may charge a per-transaction fee. Please check with your bank for more information.
A: Basic Payroll instantly calculates your federal and state payroll taxes and helps keep track of how much you owe. When it's time to pay your payroll taxes, you can print or hand-write a check to send to the appropriate agency.
A: Basic Payroll supports only a very limited set of local tax rates. For local taxes not supported, you can set up your payroll to handle these taxes, but you will be responsible for entering the tax rates manually.
A: No, Basic Payroll does not include any federal or state payroll tax forms. However, we make it easy for you to share data with your accountant on tax forms and filings.
Want to have the latest tax forms at your fingertips? Enhanced Payroll lets you pay taxes and file tax forms within QuickBooks.
Don't want to worry about payroll taxes and filings? Assisted Payroll handles your taxes and filings for you, guaranteed accurate and on time.4
A: With Basic Payroll, you can easily track employees' vacation time, sick time, and paid time off. Basic Payroll also handles many deductions like medical and dental insurance, 401(k) and other retirement plans, cash advances, and more. Plus, not all employees have to be set up with the same deductions. You can set up each employee's deductions differently.
A: No. With Basic Payroll, you cannot keep track of workers' compensation. If this feature is important to you, both Enhanced Payroll and Assisted Payroll come with workers' compensation tracking.
A: Basic Payroll's price is based on how many employees you need to pay. With a three-employee subscription, you can pay up to three-employees in any given calendar month. You can run payroll for these three employees as frequently as you'd like — but you can't pay any more than three people.
If you have more than three employees, a lot of seasonal employees, or high turnover, our unlimited employee subscription is right for you.
A: You may manage up to three EINs on a single Basic Payroll subscription at no additional charge.
A: When you use Basic Payroll, your QuickBooks software connects you to the Internet only to download tax rate updates onto your computer from our secure system. It does not send any of your payroll data over the Internet (unless you use our Direct Deposit feature). We consider your EIN and other business information confidential and take steps to safeguard it.
A: Basic Payroll includes numerous customizable reports to make it easy for you to provide the neccessary data to your accountant.
You can also e-mail your QuickBooks company file to your accountant or give them remote access to your file via their QuickBooks Enhanced Payroll for Accountants software. Your accountant can run reports and make adjustments for you, without ever leaving the office. Your accountant only needs to have QuickBooks financial software in order to review and edit your paychecks, run payroll reports, make liability adjustments and general journal entries.
Still have a question? Feel free to contact us at (866) 820-6382 and we will be happy to help you.