As of October 2026, QuickBooks Payroll in the US is sold as three QuickBooks Workforce plans: Workforce Payroll at $50 a month plus $7 per employee, Workforce Premium at $88 plus $13 per employee, and Workforce Elite at $134 plus $17 per employee. Intuit's pricing page shows 50% off for the first 3 months, no annual contract and cancel anytime.
Intuit now sells payroll under the QuickBooks Workforce name, and its pricing page says payroll is included with all QuickBooks Workforce plans. If you search for QuickBooks payroll pricing, these are the plans you'll be offered.
QuickBooks Workforce plans and prices
| Plan | Monthly price | Per employee | Introductory offer shown | Direct deposit speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce Payroll | $50 | $7 a month | $25 a month + $7 per employee for 3 months | Next-day (run by 5:00 PM) |
| Workforce Premium | $88 | $13 a month | $44 a month + $13 per employee for 3 months | Same-day (run by 7:00 am) |
| Workforce Elite | $134 | $17 a month | $67 a month + $17 per employee for 3 months | Same-day (run by 7:00 am) |
The introductory price halves the base fee only. The per-employee charge stays the same during the offer, so for a business with lots of staff the discount matters less than it looks.
What every plan includes
- Full service payroll: QuickBooks calculates, files and pays your payroll taxes, and sets up garnishments and deductions.
- Auto payroll for salaried employees on direct deposit, with a review step before paychecks go out.
- Unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC e-filing with the IRS, with copies sent to your contractors.
- Phone and chat support from payroll experts.
- An employee portal for pay stubs, W-2s and personal, bank and tax details.
- Access to optional benefits: health insurance by Allstate, 401(k) by Vestwell and workers' comp through NEXT.
That 1099 e-filing matters more than it used to, because the IRS e-file threshold is now 10 information returns in total. See the Form 1099-NEC guide for what counts.
What Premium and Elite add
| Feature | Payroll | Premium | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time tracking (mobile app, kiosk, schedules) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Same-day direct deposit | No (next-day) | Yes | Yes |
| Expert review of your payroll setup | No | Yes | Done for you |
| Hiring and onboarding, automated I-9, recruiting | No | Yes | Yes |
| HR resource centre and handbook creator by Mineral | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tax penalty protection (up to $25,000 a year) | No | No | Yes |
| Geofencing, mileage and project tracking | No | No | Yes |
Intuit's FAQ confirms time tracking is only in Premium and Elite. With Premium, an expert reviews your setup; with Elite, an expert sets payroll up for you, including moving data from another provider. Elite's tax penalty protection says Intuit pays IRS penalty fees and interest up to $25,000 a year and its Tax Resolution team represents you, with terms applying.
Payroll AI and switching providers
Every Workforce plan lists Intuit Intelligence. Intuit says its Payroll AI collects time and attendance data from employees, spots inconsistencies and drafts a ready-to-run payroll for you to review, and it can text your admin updates so payroll can be run from anywhere. Premium and Elite describe it as tracking down hours and scanning for anomalies, which is most useful when you also have the time tracking those plans include.
If you're moving from another provider, Intuit's FAQ says it will help transfer your existing payroll information, and with Elite a payroll expert completes the setup once you've provided the details. Premium gets an expert review of the setup you've done. Workforce Payroll gets neither, so it suits a business setting up payroll for the first time with simple pay.
Costs beyond the plan
- Background checks through Checkr start at $29.99 per report.
- Health insurance, 401(k), workers' comp and benefits administration are separate products with their own costs; benefits administration says additional fees apply.
- If you already use QuickBooks Desktop, payroll is activated separately by phone through Desktop Payroll.
- If you only pay contractors, Intuit also lists a separate Contractor Payments product, so you may not need a Workforce plan at all.
How to pick a plan, step by step
- Count your employees. Multiply by $7, $13 or $17 and add the base fee to see the real monthly bill on each plan.
- Decide whether you need time tracking. If staff clock hours or work shifts, Payroll alone won't do it.
- Check how fast you need pay to land. Next-day is fine for most; same-day needs Premium or Elite.
- If you're switching providers mid-year or you're nervous about setup, compare Premium's review with Elite's done-for-you setup.
- Use the 3-month offer to test it, knowing there's no annual contract and you can cancel anytime.
If you're comparing providers, our Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll comparison covers the trade-offs, and QuickBooks pricing covers the accounting plans you may pair with it.
The verdict
For a small team on salaries, Workforce Payroll at $50 plus $7 per employee covers the part that matters: taxes filed and paid for you and 1099s e-filed. Move to Premium only if you need time tracking or same-day pay, because that's where most of the extra $38 a month goes. Elite earns its price if you'd value an expert doing the setup and the penalty protection. Either way, work out the per-employee total before you look at the discount, because that's the number you'll pay every month after the first 3.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is QuickBooks Payroll?
As of October 2026, Workforce Payroll is $50 a month plus $7 per employee, Workforce Premium $88 plus $13 per employee, and Workforce Elite $134 plus $17 per employee.
Is there a QuickBooks Payroll discount?
Intuit's pricing page shows 50% off the base monthly price for 3 months. The per-employee charge isn't discounted.
Does QuickBooks Payroll file payroll taxes for me?
Yes. All Workforce plans include full service payroll, where QuickBooks calculates, files and pays your payroll taxes.
Does QuickBooks Payroll include time tracking?
Only on Workforce Premium and Elite, according to Intuit's FAQ.
Is there a contract for QuickBooks Payroll?
Intuit's pricing page says there's no annual contract and you can cancel anytime.
What is QuickBooks Workforce?
It's the name Intuit now uses for its payroll and HR plans. Payroll is included with all QuickBooks Workforce plans.
Can QuickBooks set up payroll for me?
Yes, with Workforce Elite a payroll expert completes the setup. With Workforce Premium an expert reviews the setup you've done.
