How to Change Pay Period in QuickBooks Online?

You can easily edit the date, payment frequency, and pay period in QuickBooks Online. To change the pay period in QuickBooks Online, you will have to make a few changes in the Accounts and Settings tab. However, there are certain limitations to it, if you surpass them, you will be able to make the changes.

The accuracy in Payroll administration completely depends on your ability to modify the pay period, regardless of how much experience you have with QuickBooks. In this article, you will gain insights into what’s a pay period, the steps for changing the pay period details, and the conditions required to edit the pay schedule in QuickBooks Online. This way, you can ensure that your workers get paid on time and appropriately.

What is the Pay Period in QuickBooks?

It is important for the users to first gain knowledge on Pay Period in QuickBooks, and then follow the steps to make changes in it. So, there are four types of payroll schedules in QuickBooks; namely Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly, and Semi-Monthly:

• Weekly: You can pay your employees on any particular day in a week, such as Thursdays or Fridays. This results in 52 payouts in a year.
• Bi-Weekly: If you pay your employees in alternate weeks, such as 1st and 3rd week of the month. This results in 26 payouts annually.
• Monthly: Payments that are made once every month, are Monthly payments. This leads to 12 payouts every year.
• Semi-Monthly: You can make semi-monthly payments by releasing the payments twice a month, such as on the 15th and 30th of every month. This leads to 12 payouts annually.

Conditions to Change Pay Period in QuickBooks Online

Two conditions are applied for making changes in the pay schedule in QuickBooks Online.

• If You’ve Not Submitted the First Payroll: You can edit the dates, times, and other details in the pay schedule only if you have not released the first payroll.
• If You’ve Not Removed Your First Payroll Submission: You’re not allowed to make changes in the pay period if the data from running the first payroll is still there.

So, if you submitted the payroll, then delete it. After it is removed, you can edit the pay period in QuickBooks.

How to Change the Pay Period in QuickBooks Online?

Here are the steps required to change the pay period in QuickBooks Online such as edit, delete, or make changes in frequency, date, name, and next date of payment release.

1. Click on the gear icon present in the upper right corner of the dashboard.
2. Select the “Account and Settings” from the dropdown’s Your Company’s section.

3. Click open the “Payroll” tab present on the left side of the dashboard.

4. Payroll Schedule will be displayed.
5. Click on “Edit Schedule” written in blue colored text.

6. Make the required changes, and click on the “Save” button.

Conclusion

You can change the pay period in QuickBooks Online by making edits in the Payroll tab in the Account and Settings. This article has a step-by-step guide, that will lead towards making edits in the pay period successfully. To ensure payroll submissions are managed well, you must delete the first submitted payroll details.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How to edit the pay period in QuickBooks Online?

To edit the pay period in QuickBooks Online, go to the settings menu bar, and click on the ‘Accounts and Settings’ tab present below the Your Company section. Then, click on the ‘Edit Schedule’ button and click on the ‘Save’ button to make the changes permanent.

2. How can I make changes in the Pay Schedule?

You can make changes to the pay schedule by clicking on the Edit Schedule button in the payroll tab. Then, you will get the option to make changes in the payment period, Date, Time, Name, and Next Payment Date. Once you make the required changes, click on Save.

3. How can I change the frequency of Payment from Weekly to Bi-Weekly in QuickBooks Online?

To change the frequency of payment from weekly to bi-weekly, go to the Payrolls section, and click on the edit schedule button. After this, click on the ‘Weekly Payment Schedule’ option, and from the dropdown, select Bi-weekly.

4. Are there any limitations for making edits in the pay period?

Yes, there are limitations to applying changes in the Pay Period of QuickBooks Online. The user must ensure that there are no data saved from the previous payroll released. Hence, if you have released the first payroll, then you must delete the data. Once previous pay period data is removed, you can make edits in the pay periods.