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Sep 18, 2023
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Intuit Online Payroll Review (Also Known As QuickBooks Online Payroll)
QuickBooks Online Payroll is a full-service payroll processing software solution from Intuit that works directly with QuickBooks Online.
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WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Senior Staff Writer
Last updated onUpdated
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REVIEWED BY
Editor & Senior Staff Writer
Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity.
Intuit Online Payroll
| Total Rating | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Fair |
| Features | Excellent |
| Customer Service | Fair |
| Integrations | Excellent |
| Reviews | Fair |
Payroll Processing Time
Same-day-5 DaysPricing
$45/month-$125/month + $6-$10/personBusiness Size
Small to medium-sized businesses with up to 150 employeesCurrent Deal: Get 50% off for three months when you sign up now. Save 50% Today
Intuit Online Payroll At A Glance
- QuickBooks Online Payroll has all essential payroll features and a large number of integrations, and it directly integrates with QuickBooks Online for a smooth and seamless transition into the payroll world.
- You must have an existing QuickBooks Online account or plan to purchase both QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Payroll to use this payroll service.
- Intuit Online Payroll is easy to use, and those familiar with QuickBooks will find a similar interface and level of usability.
Pros
- Easy setup
- No long-term contract required
- Integrates with QuickBooks Online
- 24-hour direct deposit
- Comprehensive feature set
- Tax penalty protection
Cons
- Numerous public complaints
- Poor customer support
- Small-print fees
- Capped at 150 employees paid
- Poorly reviewed Workforce app
Table of Contents
- What is QuickBooks Online Payroll?
- Intuit Online Payroll Pricing
- Is QuickBooks Online Easy To Use?
- QuickBooks Online Payroll Features
- QuickBooks Online Payroll Customer Service
- QuickBooks Online Payroll Integrations
- QuickBooks Online Payroll Reviews
- Is QuickBooks Online Payroll Secure?
- How Does QuickBooks Online Payroll Compare To Other Payroll Software
- The Final Verdict: Is QuickBooks Online Payroll Worth It?
- Intuit Online Payroll FAQs
What is QuickBooks Online Payroll?
QuickBooks Online Payroll is a full-service payroll processing software solution from Intuit that works directly with QuickBooks Online. Small to mid-sized businesses with up to 150 paid employees or contractors can use QuickBooks Online Payroll to automate running payroll, manage HR, handle benefits administration, and manage payroll taxes.
There are two types of QuickBooks payroll products: QuickBooks Desktop Payroll and QuickBooks Online Payroll. While QuickBooks Online Payroll works with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll only works with QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. Both of QuickBooks’ payroll software options are feature-rich and on the high-end of the price scale.
Small businesses might find all those features dizzying, inflexible, and more expensive than other small business options, such as Gusto or Square Payroll, which keep things simple.
Intuit Online Payroll Pricing
| Intuit Online Payroll Plans | Price | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $45/month + $6 per employee | If you need a basic payroll solution that integrates with QuickBooks |
| Premium | $80/month + $8 per employee | If you need on-the-go time tracking for 25+ users |
| Elite | $125/month + $10 per employee | If you need advanced HR support |
QuickBooks Online Payroll offers three payroll pricing plans, with each plan increasing features and benefits as you go up a tier. QuickBooks Online Payroll has month-to-month contracts and no early termination fees. Payments are monthly, and you can cancel your subscription at any time.
QuickBooks recently added a separate QuickBooks Contractor Payments pricing tier as a part of its payroll services, for businesses that only pay contractors and that only need basic payment support for contractors.
QuickBooks also runs promotions for its payroll product frequently, so be sure to check for any available discounts before purchasing. QuickBooks Online Payroll offers a 30-day free trial, but if you opt to try before you buy, you’ll miss out on a 50% off “buy now” promotion.
Compared to other top payroll options with transparent pricing such as Gusto or OnPay, QuickBooks Online Payroll’s pricing is a bit on the higher end. For example, neither OnPay or Gusto charge you extra to offer direct deposit for contractors.
Additionally, while QuickBooks Online Payroll’s cheapest plan for paying both employees and contractors doesn’t include local tax filing and payment, both Gusto and OnPay’s cheapest plans do.
QuickBooks Contractor Payments
QuickBooks Contractor Payments standalone payroll plan for paying contractors costs $15/month for 20 contractors and adds a $2 per contractor fee starting with your 21st contractor, and includes:
- Unlimited contractor payments
- Contractor self-onboarding including W-9 completion and bank details
- Unlimited 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC efiling for contractors and vendors
QuickBooks Online Payroll Core
QuickBooks Online Payroll Core cost costs $45/month + $6/per employee and includes:
- Next day direct deposit
- Unlimited payroll runs
- Calculates paychecks
- Calculates and files federal and state taxes
- Calculates and files year-end forms
- 1099 e-file and pay
- Expert support
- Workforce portal
- Manages garnishments and deductions
- Offers reporting features
- Healthcare benefits
- 401(k) plans
QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium
QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium plan costs $80/month + $8 per employee and includes everything in the Core plan, plus:
- Local level payroll tax support
- Automatic state new-hire reporting
- 24-hour same-day direct deposit
- Expert payroll setup review
- Time tracking on the go
- HR support center
- Workers’ compensation administration
QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite
QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite plan costs $125/month + $10 per employee and includes everything in the Premium plan, plus:
- HR support with a personal HR advisor
- Assisted payroll setup
- White glove customized setup
- Advanced time and project tracking
- Tax penalty protection of up to $25,000
- 24/7 product support
QuickBooks Online Payroll Extra Costs & Fees
| Intuit Online Payroll Extra Costs | Price |
|---|---|
| Workers' Comp | $5 admin fee (Core plan only) |
| 401(k) Retirement Plans | Variable premium costs |
| Heath Benefits | Variable premium costs |
| QuickBooks Simple Start | $30/month |
| 1099 e-Filing | $14.99 |
| Multistate Payroll Processing | Starting at $12 per run (Core and Premium plans) |
| Next-Day Direct Deposit For Contractors | $5/month |
QuickBooks Online Payroll has more than its fair share of extra costs and fees. In addition to common add-on costs for healthcare, users are expected to pay extra for benefits, such as 1099 e-filing, multistate tax filing, and access to QuickBooks Online Simple Start services.
Other providers roll the cost of 1099 e-filing into their plan costs, so having to pay extra for it may cause some businesses to pause. However, as the company partners with providers such as Guideline, SimplyInsured, and AP Intego to provide these services, the prices are on par with its competitors in the payroll software industry.
Is QuickBooks Online Easy To Use?
QuickBooks Online Payroll is packed with tons of features that may make it challenging to navigate if you’re new to payroll software or are looking to stick to payroll basics. Onboarding is relatively straightforward but will take some time. As cloud-based software, QuickBooks Online Payroll operates with nearly all internet browsers so long as you have internet access.
I found QuickBooks relatively easy to navigate, and enjoyed the guided approach to setting up your payroll system. You can play around in the software to get a feel for it before running your first payroll, or even adding your employees.
There are also desktop versions available, which rate higher among consumers for speed. To read forms and use the print checks feature, you need Adobe Reader 7.0+ or the Firefox PDF plugin. When you set up your check printing in QuickBooks, you’ll find a link to download the most recent version of Adobe Reader.
QuickBooks Online Payroll also has mobile apps for Apple products and Android products.
QuickBooks Online Payroll Features
| Intuit Online Payroll Features | Availability |
|---|---|
| Payroll Tax Support | |
| Auto-Schedule Payroll | |
| Bonus Payroll | |
| Off-Cycle Payroll | |
| Employee Management | |
| Paid Time Off | |
| Time Tracking | |
| HR Support | |
| Onboarding Support | |
| Benefits Administration | |
| Number Of Reports | 20+ |
QuickBooks Online Payroll stands out as a full-featured payroll solution that integrates with QuickBooks and offers all the basics you’d expect with a payroll solution. For the cost and wealth of features, Intuit is well-optimized for mid-sized businesses looking for a full-service payroll solution.
As QuickBooks Desktop payroll service does not have a user cap, it’s a better option for companies that plan to grow beyond 150 employees.
Overall, QuickBooks Online Payroll boasts a range of features that make it a great option for businesses already within the QuickBooks ecosystem. As a standalone solution, though, it doesn’t stand out from the competition.
For small and micro businesses looking for self-service payroll, this is an expensive option for the features promised, and you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere.
Payroll Processing
Intuit promises that running payroll is as easy as clicking a button. It takes about two or three minutes to run payroll online. Once your employees are enrolled, their hours and pay scales set, and your pay dates set, running payroll is simple.
Here’s a look at QuickBooks Online Payroll’s payroll processing features:
- Unlimited payroll runs
- 50 state payroll runs
- Multistate payroll
- Auto payroll
- Direct deposit
- Print checks
- Termination paychecks
- Deductions and garnishments
- Multiple pay rates
- Next-day payroll (Premium and up)
Employee Management & PTO
Intuit has many features to help you manage your employees and contractors from a single interface. You can add various details, including job title, payment information, time off, tax documents, and benefits. Intuit allows you to manage additional earnings, deductions, and garnishments. Employers also have the ability to customize their time-off policies and monitor how much time off an employee or contractor has accrued.
Here’s a look at QuickBooks Online Payroll employee management and PTO features:
- Employee and contractor portal
- Custom PTO policies
- Sick and vacation days
- Paystub printing
- Time off requests
- Tax form access
- PTO accruement
Time Tracking
QuickBooks’ time tracking offers businesses the ability to manage and track employee and contractor time through a QuickBooks Time integration. Users will need a subscription to the QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium tier to access time-tracking features.
Here’s a look at QuickBooks Online Payroll’s time-tracking features:
- Employee time management
- Mobile time tracking (Premium and up)
- Schedule management
- Time clock reminders
- Time reporting
- Time tracking integrations
Payroll Tax Support
QuickBooks Online Payroll offers basic tax support features on all its plans, including support for 1099 contractors. Intuit will pay your taxes and file your quarterly payroll reports for you. For local taxes, you might be on your own to deduct and allocate; check with a QuickBooks or tax expert.
Here’s a look at QuickBooks Online Payroll’s tax support features:
- TurboTax support
- Auto calculated payroll taxes (federal and state)
- Auto filed and paid payroll taxes (federal and state)
- 1099 e-file and payment
- Digital and printed W-2 forms
- Digital and printed W-3 forms
Reporting
QuickBooks offers plenty of built-in payroll reporting features alongside customizable reports. The platform’s reporting dashboard is easy to navigate and allows users to favorite specific payroll reports for quick access.
Here are some of QuickBooks Online Payroll reporting features:
- 20 built-in payroll reports
- Created custom reports
- Importing and exporting reports
- Search reports by name
HR & Onboarding
QuickBooks Online Payroll only offers HR support on its Premium and Elite plans. Core plan users will get no such support but can upgrade their plan to use the platform’s HR features.
Here are QuickBooks Online Payroll’s HR and onboarding features offered to Premium and Elite users:
- HR resource center
- Offer letter templates
- New hire checklist
- Job description templates
- Employee handbook creation tool
- Create custom HR policies
- Workforce portal
- New-hire reporting
Benefits Administration
QuickBooks Online Payroll offers health, vision, and dental benefits through SimplyInsured, which doesn’t offer health benefits in Hawaii, Vermont, and DC. Likewise, workers’ comp insurance isn’t available in Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.
Additional benefits can also be added and managed through the QuickBooks Online Payroll benefits dashboard. There are also options to connect your benefits management, but QuickBooks does not often integrate with things outside the QuickBooks Suite. So some businesses find themselves going back and forth with record keeping.
Check out QuickBooks Online Payroll’s benefits administration features:
- Benefits management dashboard
- 401(k) retirement plans and matching
- Healthcare benefits
- Vision and dental insurance
- Workers’ comp (Premium and up)
- Credit Karma integration for new hires using Workforce
QuickBooks Online Payroll Customer Service
| Intuit Online Payroll Support | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| Support Tickets | |
| Live Chat | |
| Dedicated Support Representative | |
| Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
| Videos & Tutorials | |
| Company Blog | |
| Social Media |
QuickBooks’s Online Payroll’s live customer support team works from 6 AM – 6 PM PT Monday through Friday and 6 AM – 3 PM PT on Saturday.
However, you should be prepared to spend some time getting your questions answered if you run into problems.
While the people on the other end of the phone/chat/screen are well-intentioned, very few of them are actual payroll experts. It can take a long time to connect with someone who is.
Intuit QuickBooks is known for outsourcing its help centers, so you may have a hard time connecting with someone who can actually help.
QuickBooks Online Payroll Integrations
QuickBooks Online Payroll is continuously expanding its integrations. QuickBooks is known for giving access to over 750 apps, and the Intuit Online program has many you might be familiar with, such as QuickBooks Time, Expensify, Shopify, and Chaser.
A QuickBooks Online Payroll API for time tracking and deductions is available on the platform’s developer sandbox.
QuickBooks Online Payroll Reviews
The Better Business Bureau gives Intuit QuickBooks a good rating overall, but if you delve deeper into the reviews specifically for the payroll program, things turn ugly in a hurry.
There are a plethora of rants about misfiled taxes, miscommunications about payments, and the general ineptitude of the customer service representatives.
On G2, QuickBooks Online Payroll earns 3.8/5 stars based on 60+ reviews. Most recent reviews suggest that the software is easy to use and valuable if you are already within the QuickBooks ecosystem. Complaints include customer service issues, feature limitations, and high pricing.
Negative QuickBooks Online Payroll Reviews
- Hidden and unauthorized fees
- Tax errors
- Missing payments
- Poor customer service
Positive QuickBooks Online Payroll Reviews
- Onboarding and setup representative
- Easy-to-use platform
- Excellent QuickBooks integration
- Consistently updated
Is QuickBooks Online Payroll Secure?
Generally, QuickBooks Online doesn’t experience data breaches frequently. Most recently, QuickBooks worked to mitigate its software’s security vulnerabilities to cybercriminals exploiting the logj4 code that QuickBooks software is built on. There is an active security threat at the time of writing. Cybercriminals have exploited logj4 coding present in QuickBooks software to steal data.
Generally, QuickBooks Online Payroll has substantial security features to protect its users against fraud and data theft, including monitoring to keep on top of security threats.
Here are some of QuickBooks Online Payroll security features:
- 128-bit SSL encryption
- Multifactor authentication
- Tier-4 data center physical security measures
- Routine security testing
How Does QuickBooks Online Payroll Compare To Other Payroll Software
| QuickBooks Online | Gusto | ADP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $45/month +$6/person to $125/month + $10/person | From $40/month + $6/employee to $80/month + $12/employee | Variable |
| Business Size | Small to mid-sized businesses | Small to large-sized businesses | Small to enterprise-sized businesses |
| Number Of Employees | Up to 150 employees or contractors | Up to 650+ | 1,000+ |
| Number Of States Supported | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Payroll Processing Time | Same-day to 5 days | Next-day to 4 days | Variable |
| Quality Of Features | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Quality Of Support | Fair | Good | Good |
QuickBooks VS. Gusto
Gusto’s customer service, transparent pricing with few added fees, and proven bang for the buck make it a solid QuickBooks Online Payroll competitor.
QuickBooks boasts a fully-featured business software suite, including accounting, invoicing, and business financing, which tends to attract small business owners looking for a comprehensive solution that will support them from funding to finance management.
However, for businesses that are looking for a payroll software solution that offers extensive features without the exorbitant price tag, Gusto is the way to go.
Our Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll comparison takes a deeper look into the differences between QuickBooks Online Payroll and Gusto, including pricing, features, and more.
QuickBooks Online Payroll VS ADP
Both QuickBooks and ADP have a long-standing reputation in the B2B space: ADP for its outstanding payroll services and QuickBooks for its accounting software.
So, it’s no surprise that ADP wins out as a more feature-rich and reliable payroll software solution, while QuickBooks offers a solid payroll feature set and stands out for its integration within the QuickBooks Online ecosystem.
QuickBooks boasts transparent pricing, excellent native accounting software integration, and software designed for smaller businesses, while ADP boasts far more extensive payroll and HR features, scalability, and excellent payroll reporting features.
Our QuickBooks versus ADP comparison takes a deep dive into the differences between QuickBooks and ADP, providing a breakdown of each software’s strengths and weaknesses as a payroll software option for small businesses.
The Final Verdict: Is QuickBooks Online Payroll Worth It?
| Intuit Online Payroll Review Summary | |
|---|---|
| Pricing | From $45-$125/month + $6-$10 per employee paid |
| Choose If You Need |
|
Intuit is undoubtedly a big player in the business software world, and the recent updates to its full-service platform demonstrate a willingness to adapt and improve its platform. Companies might have to pay for the elite service with some add-ons to get the same price and level of features as other payroll platforms. However, Intuit is continuously adapting and reworking its payroll features. Many discounts and sales are available, so the top price is competitive with industry standards.
If you’re a huge fan of QuickBooks Online and its UI, Intuit Online Payroll might still win your heart. Brand loyalty goes a long way. Plus, the TurboTax integration for W-2 employees is tempting. However, it is hard to look past the poor customer support, negative reviews, and user cap.
For the average small business owner with fewer than 150 employees, if you don’t already use QuickBooks, other options offer more support, flexibility, and value for your money.
Check out the best small business payroll software options to find the right payroll solution for your business.
Intuit Online Payroll FAQs
Davina Ward
Senior Staff Writer
Davina joined Merchant Maverick in 2022, covering small business payroll and accounting. She began writing for small businesses in 2018 and has since gained expertise in the SaaS industry. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in English Literature from SUNY Geneseo in 2018. She currently resides in New York.
View Davina Ward's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆
Intuit Online Payroll |
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After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Intuit Online Payroll for yourself.
The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆
Intuit Online Payroll |
|---|
After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Intuit Online Payroll for yourself.
