Intuit Quickbooks Payroll Software Review

Payroll services like Intuit QuickBooks not only help you pay your employees but also take care of ongoing payroll taxes and year-end tax forms.

We tried Intuit QuickBooks Payroll and compared it to other services on the market. Read on to find out if it’s the best fit for your business’ needs.

Summary

Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is a QuickBooks add-on that allows users to seamlessly integrate payroll with their other accounting data. While not quite as advanced as some other payroll specialists, it’s an easy, time-saving option that’s worth considering for any business that uses QuickBooks.

Who is Intuit QuickBooks Payroll Right For?

While Intuit QuickBooks Payroll can be purchased independently, it’s a better bargain for businesses that already utilize QuickBooks Accounting software.

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Pricing

Intuit QuickBooks offers two different plans for folks buying payroll alone, and four for those buying it in a bundle with QuickBooks Online accounting software. (Note that payroll packages differ for QuickBooks Desktop.)

Take a look at what each of these packages includes below!

Self Service

Calculating paychecks and paying employees are the only features included in QuickBooks’ Basic Payroll package.

Cost:

$39/month + $2/employee/month (regular discounts offered)

Who is Self Service Right For?

QuickBooks Self Service Payroll is a cost-effective option for any business that just needs a basic payroll service.

Full Service

The Full Service plan includes everything from the Enhanced package, plus all of the following:

• Complete payroll taxes
• Free W-2 filing
• Assisted payroll setup
• No-penalty guarantee

Cost:

$99/month + $2/employee/month (regular discounts offered)

Who is Full Service Right For?

The Full Service plan is designed for businesses in need of a highly automated payroll service that includes comprehensive tax assistance.

Self Service Payroll with QuickBooks

In addition to QuickBooks Accounting software, this package also includes:

• 24-hour direct deposit
• Calculating employee paychecks
• Calculating and filing year-end tax forms
• Fast, unlimited payroll runs

Cost:

$59/month + $2/employee/month

Who is Self Service Payroll with QuickBooks Right For?

This package is a smart choice for businesses looking to invest in basic self-service payroll and tax assistance in addition to QuickBooks accounting software.

Self Service Payroll with QuickBooks Plus

This package comes with QuickBooks Plus along with all of the following payroll and tax features:

• 24-hour direct deposit
• Calculating employee paychecks
• Calculating and filing year-end tax forms
• Fast, unlimited payroll runs
• Assisted payroll setup
• Complete payroll taxes
• Same-day direct deposit
• Free W-2 filing
• Expert assistance
• No-penalty guarantee

Cost:

$99/month + $2/employee/month

Who is Self Service Payroll with QuickBooks Plus Right For?

Any business seeking advanced self-service payroll and tax features in addition to a QuickBooks Plus subscription would benefit from this package.

Full Service Payroll with QuickBooks

This full-service payroll package includes QuickBooks Accounting software as well as the following payroll and tax features:

• 24-hour direct deposit
• Calculating employee paychecks
• Calculating and filing year-end tax forms
• Fast, unlimited payroll runs

Cost:

$119/month + $2/employee/month

Who is Full Service Payroll with QuickBooks Right For?

This package is ideal for any business in need of full-service payroll and tax assistance along with your accounting software.

Full Service Payroll + QuickBooks Plus

Features in addition to QuickBooks Plus:

• 24-hour Direct Deposit
• Calculate employee paychecks
• Calculate and file year-end forms
• Fast, unlimited payroll runs
• Payroll taxes done for you
• Same Day Direct Deposit
• Free W-2s filed and sent for you
• Assisted payroll setup
• Help from US based experts
• No-penalty guarantee

Cost:

$159/month + $2/employee/month

Who is Full Service Payroll + QuickBooks Plus Right For?

QuickBooks’ premium payroll package is perfect for any business with room in the budget for full-service payroll services and QuickBooks Plus Accounting software.

Ratings

Value - 4/5

Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is nowhere near the most advanced provider in the industry, but much of its value comes from its convenience. Folks who are already using QuickBooks Accounting software are able to integrate all their existing business data and tax information, making for a streamlined setup process.

With price points about on-par with Gusto and frequent discounts on their services, QuickBooks Payroll is one of the more affordable options on the market today. Plus, while other services charge a fee per payroll run, Intuit QuickBooks allows you to run payroll as often as you need at no extra cost.

Customer Service - 4/5

Intuit QuickBooks Payroll provides a helpful onboarding process with navigation indicators to help you get accustomed to the software, as well as a decent online knowledge database with user guides and video tutorials. They also offer phone and email support during normal business hours six days a week.

That said, QuickBooks Payroll actually has some significant drawbacks when it comes to customer service. Although they provide a strong payroll infrastructure, QuickBooks’ top priority is their accounting software. Unfortunately, that means their payroll-specific customer support and troubleshooting often fall by the wayside.

Ease of Use - 4.5/5

User-friendliness is undoubtedly one of QuickBooks Payroll’s major selling points.

Their user-interface is easy to navigate, and the fact that the program is cloud-based means there’s no hefty software to install or maintain. Their mobile apps are also intuitively designed and allow you to run payroll anytime, anywhere.

The full-service packages are even simpler and more automated. You don’t have to worry about running payroll, completing tax forms, or fulfilling payroll tax obligations—it’s all taken care of automatically. Plus, as we’ve discussed, existing QuickBooks Accounting users are able to seamlessly integrate all of their business data.

Included Features - 3.5/5

On the downside, Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is missing quite a few features—especially in the lower-tiered plans. For instance, their Basic plan is virtually the only payroll package on the market that does not include payroll taxes. They also don’t offer benefits management or HR services in any of their packages (unlike providers like ADP).

However, on the upside, most of their payroll plans include 1099 e-filing, workers’ compensation services, and some other helpful features. They also offer intuitive mobile apps, easily-accessible employee portals, and of course, a reliable payroll infrastructure. All in all, although QuickBooks Payroll doesn’t tick all the extra boxes, they still have a lot to offer.

Conclusion

We highly recommend taking advantage of the QuickBooks Payroll 30-day trial to find out whether or not the service meets your business’ needs. Especially if you’re already using QuickBooks Accounting software, it’s well-worth taking the time to explore their payroll platform.

That said, we encourage you to do some more research before committing to any one payroll service — for instance, compare QuickBooks’ pricing and features with those of other providers like Gusto. That way, you’ll be sure to find the service that offers the perfect balance of convenience, affordability, and whatever other characteristics are most important to your business.

Who is Intuit QuickBooks Payroll Right For?

While Intuit QuickBooks Payroll can be purchased independently, it’s a better bargain for businesses that already utilize QuickBooks Accounting software.

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