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Payroll software review

QuickBooks Payroll

Intuit's full-service payroll (QuickBooks Workforce), sold on its own from $50 a month plus $7 per employee or bundled with QuickBooks accounting, month to month. It files federal and state payroll taxes and W-2s; local taxes, same-day deposit and time tracking start on the Premium plan.

By Intuit QuickBooksParent company: Intuit Inc.

RTC SCORE

6.5

#8 of 22 with enough data

Our verdict

A month-to-month full-service payroll at $50 a month plus $7 per employee that fits best if you already keep your books in QuickBooks Online. For a tipped restaurant team, plan on entering tips and the tip credit by hand, and on Premium if you need local taxes or time tracking.

What we like

  • Payroll is sold on its own, month to month and with published prices: $50 a month plus $7 per employee on Workforce Payroll, with no setup fee.
  • Files federal and state payroll taxes, W-2s and new-hire reports, with unlimited 1099 e-filing and unlimited payroll runs.
  • Next-day direct deposit is included, and employees get free on-demand pay through Clair.
  • Documents W-2 code TP for qualified tips in 2026 and tracks qualified overtime automatically.

What to watch

  • Tips are entered by hand on each paycheck: there is no documented tip import from any POS, no tip pooling and no automatic top-up to the minimum wage.
  • Local taxes, same-day deposit, time tracking and scheduling start on the Premium plan, which costs more per month and per employee.
  • Tax penalty protection whoever made the error is only on Elite; the base plan covers only penalties caused by Intuit's own errors.
  • Each extra state costs $12 a month, and the base plan's live support runs weekdays only, 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score6.5out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness100%

We could verify 100% of the scoring data

Strongest points
12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), Who files payroll taxes, Published pricing
Weakest point
POS integrations

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%Strongest8.7 out of 10

    $1,860 over 12 months

  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest8.5 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%1.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%5.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%10.0 out of 10
  • Live support hours a weekWeight 5%3.6 out of 10
  • Payroll in all 50 statesWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Time trackingWeight 4%5.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Early termination feeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Unlimited pay runsWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Fastest direct deposit includedWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Tax penalty guaranteeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Accounting integrationsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Garnishments and new-hire reportingWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Declared cash tipsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • State and local minimum wages built inWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%10.0 out of 10

Current promotion

  • Discount

    $75Source: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)50% of the $50 base fee of Workforce Payroll for 3 months: $25 a month, $75 in all. It doesn't apply to per-employee, contractor or state fees.
    Conditions
    New QuickBooks Workforce customers who buy the monthly plan with the 3-month discount option: 50% off the base price for the first 3 months, then the full price. It can't be combined with the 30-day free trial, and Intuit may end it at any time.
    Valid until
    The vendor publishes no end date. We take it down if we can't re-check it within 30 days.

Counts in the RTC Score only if our reference restaurant qualifies.

The switching or signing incentive is one of the criteria with the most weight in the RTC Score. We count a promotion only while it's current, with a fixed published amount and conditions our reference restaurant meets. "Up to" amounts, buyouts of your current contract and unpublished amounts don't count. The cost calculator subtracts one only when your numbers qualify.

Check it with your numbers

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Pricing
Data pointValue
Base fee$50/moSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Workforce Payroll, sold without accounting. Premium is $88 + $13 per employee and Elite $134 + $17. Bundled with QuickBooks Online accounting it is $88 + $7 (Simple Start), $135 + $7 (Essentials) or $228 + $13 (Premium with Plus).
Per employee$7Source: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)On Workforce Payroll. The introductory discount and the free trial don't apply to this fee.
Who counts as an employeeUnconfirmedSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Intuit's US pricing pages and disclosures say "each employee" without saying whether it counts every active employee or only those paid that month. We looked in the pricing page, the disclosures and the US help center.
Per contractor (1099)$7Source: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)On Workforce Payroll (formerly Core), for contractors paid by direct deposit.
Published pricingPublishedSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)
Setup fee$0 one-timeSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Intuit's pricing disclosures list no setup fee. New customers get a free one-time 60-minute guided setup session; Elite adds expert setup.
Year-end forms fee$0/yrSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)W-2 and W-3 filing is part of every Workforce plan, and 1099 e-filing is unlimited. Printing and mailing 1099 copies may cost extra.
Each extra state$12Source: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Elite has no extra-state fee.
Other feesEach extra state: $12 a month on Payroll and Premium. Contractors paid by direct deposit: $7 a month each on Payroll. Next-day deposit to contractors: extra fee, amount not published. Printing and mailing 1099 copies: may cost extra. Background checks through Checkr: from $29.99 per report. Mineral HR advisor: paid add-on below Elite. Benefits administration: sold separately, 20+ employees.Source: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)
Taxes and forms
Data pointValue
Who files payroll taxesThe provider calculates, files and pays federal and state payroll taxesSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Federal and state on Workforce Payroll; local taxes are paid and filed only on Premium and Elite. Intuit doesn't pay or file NY SDI or HI TDI on any plan.
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)The QuickBooks Workforce help center lists the payroll tax agencies of all 50 states and DC; one state is included and each extra state costs $12 a month on Payroll and Premium.
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsW-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Intuit's help center lists W-2 and W-3 as filed for you on every Workforce plan.
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Contractors are paid from the same payroll plan, at the same per-person price as employees. Same-day deposit is for employees only.
Tax penalty guaranteePays penalties caused by its own errorsSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Every plan: Intuit pays federal or state penalties and interest caused by its own errors. Elite adds tax penalty protection up to $25,000 a year whoever made the error, if you send the notice within 15 days and finished the expert review.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingIncludedSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Intuit's help center lists new-hire reporting as filed for you on Workforce Payroll, Premium and Elite; one footnote of the disclosures limits it to Premium and Elite.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesUnconfirmedSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)The US help article on pay schedules says you pick a pay frequency but doesn't list the options; only Intuit's Canadian help lists them, and that is a different product.
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)
Fastest direct deposit includedNext daySource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)On Workforce Payroll, subject to eligibility. Same-day deposit (run payroll by 7 AM PT) comes only with Premium and Elite, for employees only.
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)Included at no cost to the employerSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Standard advances reach the employee in 1 to 3 business days at no cost; an instant transfer costs the employee up to $4.99. Employers aren't responsible for advances.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit documents entering tips by hand on each paycheck; we found no tip import from Toast, Square, Clover, Shift4 POS, Lightspeed, SpotOn or Heartland in its tips help or pricing pages.
Tip pooling and tip-outsNot offeredSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit's tips help doesn't document a tip pool or tip-out calculation; you enter each employee's tip amount yourself.
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upYou calculate itSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit doesn't document an automatic top-up to the minimum wage; you set up and calculate the tip credit yourself.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Not supportedSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit's tips help and its No Tax on Tips article don't mention Form 8846 or a report for the FICA tip credit.
Declared cash tipsYesSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)You enter cash tips with the Cash Tips pay type so taxes are withheld; they don't add to net pay. Employees don't declare them in an app.
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Announced or partly documentedSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Code TP is documented: qualified tips entered as Cash Tips or Paycheck Tips go to W-2 box 12, code TP. The tipped occupation code is promised for QuickBooks Online "in mid 2026", with no steps yet for Workforce.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Announced or partly documentedSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Workforce tracks qualified overtime for 2026 to 2028, but the article doesn't say the amount goes to W-2 box 12 with code TT.
Service charges paid as wagesNoSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit tells you to enter automatic gratuities with the Nonqualified Tips pay types; it doesn't document paying mandatory service charges as regular wages.
State and local minimum wages built inNoSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit doesn't document built-in state or local minimum wages; we looked in its tips help and pricing pages.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Source: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Hours come from QuickBooks Time (Premium and Elite). Several POS systems sync sales to QuickBooks Online accounting, but we found none documented sending hours or tips to Workforce payroll.
Time trackingPaid add-on or higher planSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)QuickBooks Time comes with Premium ($88 + $13 per employee) and Elite; it isn't in Workforce Payroll.
SchedulingPaid add-on or higher planSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Scheduling comes with Premium and Elite. The pricing page also lists "Create schedules" in the Workforce Payroll + Simple Start bundle without explaining it.
Accounting integrationsQuickBooks OnlineSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Payroll runs inside QuickBooks Online and syncs to its books. QuickBooks Desktop has its own payroll.
Payroll engineThe vendor itselfSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsOffered and connected to payrollSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Intuit's own broker sells Allstate plans, sold separately; deductions are calculated in payroll when you sign up through the integrated partners. Benefits administration is a separate add-on for 20+ employees.
Workers' compensationPay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Policy by NEXT, for extra fees; not available in OH, ND, WA and WY.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termMonth to monthSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)Month to month; there is no annual term and the subscription is billed monthly.
Automatic renewalMonth to monthSource: Intuit (opens in a new tab)Month to month: it renews each month, with no renewal term.
Notice to avoid renewal0 daysSource: Intuit (opens in a new tab)Month to month; you can close the account from Subscriptions and billing, and the cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing month.
Early termination feeNoneSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)
Early termination clauseNo early termination fee. Month to month; you can close the account at any time, and the cancellation takes effect at the end of the monthly billing period. There are no refunds or credits for a partial month. With full-service payroll, keep your bank account open until Intuit pays your last tax liabilities.Source: Intuit (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise pricesIntuit may change the price of recurring subscriptions with notice to you; the change takes effect at the start of the next subscription period, and you may unsubscribe before then. The terms set no minimum number of days of notice for monthly plans. The pricing pages add that terms and pricing are subject to change without notice.Source: Intuit (opens in a new tab)
Your records when you leaveYou can download them yourselfSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Premium and Elite add weekend hours (Saturday and Sunday, 6 AM to 3 PM PT).
Live support hours a week60Source: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Phone and chat, Monday to Friday 6 AM to 6 PM Pacific time, on Workforce Payroll. Premium and Elite: Monday to Friday 5 AM to 7 PM and weekends 6 AM to 3 PM PT (88 hours).
Dedicated specialistNoSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)No assigned payroll specialist is published on any plan; Elite adds expert setup and a personal HR advisor from Mineral.
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishPartlySource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)The employee app follows the phone's language; Intuit doesn't say whether pay stubs or onboarding are in Spanish.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishNoSource: QuickBooks Community (Intuit staff reply) (opens in a new tab)Answer from the QuickBooks Team on Intuit's community (March 2020): the Spanish language setting is only in the international QuickBooks Online, which has no US payroll.
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: QuickBooks Help (Intuit) (opens in a new tab)Intuit says the Workforce app displays in Spanish but doesn't say whether pay stubs are; we looked in its help center and the Workforce app page.
Support in SpanishSays it serves you in SpanishSource: QuickBooks Community (Intuit staff reply) (opens in a new tab)Moderator reply of July 2022; an earlier staff reply says the first agent may not speak Spanish. Intuit publishes no Spanish line for payroll.
Contract or terms in SpanishNoSource: Intuit (opens in a new tab)The US terms are published in English; the Spanish address (es-us) returns a 404.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: Intuit QuickBooks (opens in a new tab)quickbooks.intuit.com/es is Intuit's global site, without US payroll, and /es-us returns a 404.

More about QuickBooks Payroll

How we score