QuickBooks Payroll Payroll Pricing, Plans and Review (2026)
As of November 2026, QuickBooks Workforce Payroll (formerly Core) lists at $50 per month plus about $7 per employee, Premium at $88 plus about $13, and Elite at $134 plus about $17. Intuit frequently runs 50% off the base fee for the first three months. QuickBooks Online accounting is a separate subscription.
Prices verified November 2026 QuickBooks Workforce (formerly QuickBooks Online Payroll)
QuickBooks Payroll pricing by plan
| Plan | Base / month | Per employee / month | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce Payroll (Core) | $50 | $7 | Full-service payroll, next-day direct deposit, auto payroll |
| Workforce Premium | $88 | $13 | Adds same-day deposit, time tracking, HR support center, workers' comp admin |
| Workforce Elite | $134 | $17 | Adds tax penalty protection, project tracking, personal HR advisor |
What QuickBooks Payroll costs at your headcount
| Employees | 1 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce Payroll (Core) | $57 | $85 | $120 | $225 | $400 |
| Workforce Premium | $101 | $153 | $218 | $413 | $738 |
Billing: Monthly base plus per employee; QuickBooks Online accounting subscription sold separately. Contract: Month to month; frequent 50%-off-for-3-months promotions.
Want QuickBooks Payroll's real quote for your headcount? Providers quote below list for the right customer. Tell us your headcount and up to 4 of them compete. Free, about a minute.
Get my quotesBest for
Businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
Not a fit for
Anyone not using QuickBooks for accounting; the integration is the whole point. Local tax filing is not included on the Core tier.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Seamless sync with QuickBooks Online; no journal entries to reconcile
- Tax penalty protection on Elite (Intuit pays penalties from its errors, up to a cap)
- Frequent introductory discounts
- Auto payroll for salaried teams
Cons
- Per-employee fees rose in 2025 and again in 2026
- Core tier does not file local taxes
- Requires a separate QuickBooks Online subscription for full value
- Support quality is a frequent complaint in reviews
Support
Chat and phone; expert setup review on Premium and Elite
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Compare QuickBooks Payroll with other providers
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Frequently asked questions
How much is QuickBooks Payroll per month?
As of November 2026, QuickBooks Workforce Payroll (formerly Core) lists at $50 per month plus about $7 per employee, Premium at $88 plus about $13, and Elite at $134 plus about $17. Intuit frequently runs 50% off the base fee for the first three months. QuickBooks Online accounting is a separate subscription.
Do I need QuickBooks Online to use QuickBooks Payroll?
No, payroll can be bought standalone, but nearly all of its advantages come from syncing with QuickBooks Online. If you do not use QuickBooks for bookkeeping, Gusto or OnPay offer similar prices with more included.
Does QuickBooks Payroll file local taxes?
Local tax filing is included on Premium and Elite but not on the entry Payroll tier. If you operate in a city or county with local payroll taxes, budget for Premium.
Sources
- QuickBooks Payroll pricing page, read November 2026