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Payroll software review

Toast Payroll & Team Management

Toast's payroll, sold with its POS and priced by quote. It files federal, state and local taxes, calculates tip makeup by work week, pays out child support for you, and imports card and declared cash tips from Toast's POS.

By ToastParent company: Toast, Inc.

RTC SCORE

5.2

#14 of 22 with enough data

Not enough verified data yet

We've verified 7 of 12 key facts for this payroll provider. Until we reach 80%, this page shows what we have, with sources, and it isn't a full review.

Our verdict

Strong on restaurant tip handling if you already run Toast's POS. Ask for the order form in writing and check the term and exit fee before you sign.

What we like

  • Tip makeup is calculated by work week, and card and declared cash tips flow in from Toast's POS.
  • Gives you a FICA tip credit report for Form 8846 and has a written plan for the 2026 W-2 overtime amounts.
  • Files local taxes and remits child support; employees can take PayOuts at no cost to you.

What to watch

  • Price, term and early termination fee come only with the quote; a 2023 public order form had 36 months.
  • Billed per active employee, even if they aren't paid that month.
  • Imports tips only from Toast's POS, and you file the 1099s for contractors yourself.
  • No published guarantee for tax penalties; payroll support is weekdays only.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score5.2out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness68%

We could verify 68% of the scoring data

Strongest points
Who files payroll taxes, Tip credit and minimum wage make-up, Time tracking
Weakest point
POS integrations

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%No data
  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%Weakest1.4 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%1.4 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%5.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%No data
  • Live support hours a weekWeight 5%4.0 out of 10
  • Payroll in all 50 statesWeight 4%No data
  • Time trackingWeight 4%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%5.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%6.0 out of 10
  • Early termination feeWeight 3%No data
  • Unlimited pay runsWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Fastest direct deposit includedWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Tax penalty guaranteeWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsWeight 2%6.0 out of 10
  • Accounting integrationsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%No data
  • 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%10.0 out of 10
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%10.0 out of 10

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 feeQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast's help center describes the formula (the highest of a monthly minimum, a price per employee, or a base plus a price per employee), not the amounts.
Per employeeQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Who counts as an employeeEach active employee, even if not paid that monthSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Billed per active employee on the first pay date of the month, paid or not.
Per contractor (1099)Quote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast's billing article counts active employees; it doesn't say how contractors are billed. Pricing comes with the quote.
Published pricingQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Setup feeNot publishedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Not published; set in your order.
Year-end forms fee$0/yrSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast's list of payroll fees has no year-end charge; only printed W-2s cost $5 per copy.
Each extra stateNot publishedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Not published; pricing comes with the quote.
Other feesPrinted W-2: $5 per copy. Wage or SSN/name amendment: $250 per request. Direct deposit reversal: $25. Check shipping: $20 per package. $100 a month while your EIN is missing. Insufficient funds: 2% of the amount, $300 minimum. Off-cycle payrolls: no fee at this time.Source: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Taxes and forms
Data pointValue
Who files payroll taxesThe provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Local taxes too, in the 15 states with local jurisdictions (separate returns for Ohio and Pennsylvania locals).
Payroll in all 50 statesUnconfirmedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast's tax articles cover state registration for every state, but we found no page that says Toast Payroll runs in all 50 states.
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsW-2 onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast Payroll prepares and files W-2s; for contractors it gives you the figures, and you file the 1099s.
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Tax penalty guaranteeNo guarantee publishedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast's tax FAQ explains notices and filing problems but publishes no guarantee to pay penalties caused by its errors.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingIncludedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Levies without a court order and payments to online portals are on you.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesWeekly, Every two weeks, Twice a month, MonthlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)The monthly fee doesn't depend on the number of runs; off-cycle payrolls have no fee at this time (Toast says the typical fee is $50).
Fastest direct deposit includedNext daySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast recommends submitting three business days ahead.
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)Included at no cost to the employerSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast PayOuts give employees part of their tips and wages at the end of each shift, on the Toast Pay Card.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsToastSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Card tips and declared cash tips sync from Toast POS.
Tip pooling and tip-outsPaid add-on or higher planSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast Tips Manager, a paid add-on that also exports to other payrolls.
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upCalculated automaticallySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Calculated automatically by work week.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Gives you a report for itSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast does not file Form 8846 for you.
Declared cash tipsYesSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Declared when closing the shift, with a configurable minimum percentage.
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Announced or partly documentedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast says it will add the tipped occupation code to employee profiles in 2026 for the 2026 W-2; it doesn't say in writing that the W-2 will show code TP.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Confirmed in writingSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Service charges paid as wagesYesSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
State and local minimum wages built inYesSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)State and local minimum wages come preloaded; Toast asks you to check them.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)ToastSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)
Time trackingIncludedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)
SchedulingPaid add-on or higher planSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Scheduling is a separate Toast product listed alongside payroll.
Accounting integrationsQuickBooks Online, OthersSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Other systems: a general ledger export on Toast Payroll Pro.
Payroll engineUnconfirmedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Toast doesn't say on its payroll pages who runs the payroll engine.
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsThrough a partner brokerSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Health benefits through SimplyInsured; 401(k) through Vestwell.
Workers' compensationUnconfirmedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Not documented on Toast's payroll pages we read.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Set in your order. The only public order form we found, from 2023, had a 36-month term with 1-year automatic renewals and 90 days' notice.
Automatic renewalQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Set in your order; the 2023 public order form renewed for 1-year terms.
Notice to avoid renewalQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Set in your order; the 2023 public order form required 90 days' notice.
Early termination feeQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Set in your order. In the only public order form we found (2023), the fee was the highest monthly fee of the last 12 months times the months left in the term.
Early termination clauseQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Set in your order. In the 2023 public order form, the fee was the highest monthly fee of the last 12 months times the months left in the term.
Right to raise pricesQuote onlySource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Set in your order; Toast notes that contract terms may override its published fees.
Your records when you leaveUnconfirmedSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Toast documents that former employees keep limited access to their W-2s; it doesn't say how long the employer keeps payroll records after canceling.
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)General Toast chat is 24/7, but payroll care has set hours. Toast's payroll page says chat and phone support every day of the week, without hours.
Live support hours a week67Source: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)13.5 hours a day, Monday to Friday (67.5 a week).
Dedicated specialistYesSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)An onboarding coordinator for setup; after that, the Payroll Care team.
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishNoSource: Apple App Store (listing by Toast, Inc.) (opens in a new tab)The MyToast app is listed in English only in the App Store (a hint). Toast documents no pay stubs in Spanish.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Not documented for Toast Payroll.
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Not documented.
Support in SpanishSays it serves you in SpanishSource: Toast Central (opens in a new tab)Chat in Spanish when your browser or phone is set to Spanish.
Contract or terms in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)Not documented; the order form comes with the quote.
Website in Spanish for the USYesSource: Toast (opens in a new tab)

More about Toast Payroll & Team Management

How we score