Managing payroll accurately and on time is one of the biggest responsibilities small business owners face – and it often becomes overwhelming without the right tools. QuickBooks, one of Australia’s most popular accounting platforms, offers built-in payroll features that simplify compliance, automate routine tasks, and keep businesses aligned with ATO requirements. In this comprehensive guide, we break down how QuickBooks Payroll works in Australia, its key features, pricing, compliance essentials, and best practices so small business owners can run payroll confidently, reduce errors, and focus more on growth.
What Is QuickBooks Payroll?
QuickBooks Payroll is a software tool that automates payroll management for businesses. It handles all payroll tasks from wage calculations, tax and other deductions, tax filings, time tracking, to reporting, among others. It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online accounting software and ensures compliance and convenience for employers and employees alike. With cloud-based features, QuickBooks Payroll is available in Australia with different plan options for businesses to choose from based on their requirements and size.
Why Small Businesses in Australia Prefer QuickBooks Payroll
Many small businesses in Australia have adopted QuickBooks software for payroll due to its many advantages, easy integration with QuickBooks Online and a minimal learning curve for novices. With access to online chat support, step-by-step guides, and a strong community of users, the software has become a favourite among SMEs looking for a reliable, compliant payroll solution.
Some of the standout benefits include:
- ATO-compliant Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting: Ensures businesses stay compliant with ATO requirements without manual effort.
- Automated superannuation calculations: Reduces errors and saves time when processing employee super.
- Employee self-service portal: Staff can update personal details, view payslips, and access leave balances without involving payroll teams.
- Timesheets and rostering (available on specific plans): Helps streamline scheduling and time tracking, especially for businesses with casual or shift workers.
- Mobile app for employees and employers: Offers flexibility to manage payroll tasks, approve timesheets, and check pay information from anywhere.
- Integration with other business tools: Connects easily with accounting, HR, and workforce management apps to create a smoother workflow.
- Real-time PAYG withholding and leave accruals: Automatically updates as you run payroll, reducing manual calculations and improving accuracy.
- Direct Deposit: Enables fast, hassle-free payments to employees, including same-day options.
QuickBooks Payroll Features
With several essential features in-built, QuickBooks Payroll offers a one-stop solution for Australian businesses looking for a convenient and easy-to-implement payroll system. Some of the core features are as under.
Employee Set Up
The software helps to easily add new hires with accurate personal, tax, and superannuation details to ensure smooth onboarding. It features automated employee profiles that help reduce manual errors and maintain compliant records.
Pay Run Creation
It enables the creation of weekly, fortnightly, or monthly pay runs with automatic tax, STP, and super calculations. This streamlines workflows, reducing admin time and ensuring staff are paid on time.
Leave Management
The QuickBooks payroll software tracks, approves and records leaves with built-in award and entitlement rules. It also offers real-time visibility, ensuring accurate leave balances for employees.
Single Touch Payroll (STP)
The QuickBooks payroll system facilitates automatic reporting to the ATO, including salaries, PAYG and Super details. It ensures full compliance with STP requirements while reducing manual work.
Superannuation
This software manages Super contributions seamlessly with automated calculations based on ATO rules and regulations. It also integrates with clearing houses to ensure timely and accurate payments for all employees.
PAYG Withholding
With the QuickBooks payroll solution, employers can automatically calculate the PAYG tax obligations of each employee and generate compliance reports, enabling businesses to stay on top of ATO obligations with ease.
QuickBooks Payroll Pricing in Australia
QuickBooks payroll cost is designed to be flexible and scalable for small businesses of all sizes in Australia. Plans start at an affordable monthly base fee, with an additional per-employee charge, allowing businesses to pay only for what they need as they grow. Each tier includes essential payroll features such as automated pay runs, STP Phase 2 compliance, employee self-service, and superannuation management, while higher plans unlock advanced tools like timesheets, award interpretation, and expanded workforce management. With transparent pricing and no hidden costs, QuickBooks Payroll gives businesses a cost-effective way to streamline payroll, stay compliant, and reduce administrative workload.
The plans are of four types – Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced, with the prices ranging from around AUD 15 per month to around AUD 65 per month.
Benefits of Using QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks provides business owners with multiple benefits for managing their payroll administration. Some of the benefits are discussed in this section.
- Reduced time for admin tasks: QuickBooks payroll automates routine payroll processes, helping Australian small businesses dramatically cut down on manual admin time and improve overall efficiency.
- Minimised compliance risks: With built-in ATO-compliant features, QuickBooks payroll reduces the risk of costly errors by ensuring accurate STP reporting, superannuation calculations, and PAYG withholding.
- Improved accuracy: Real-time data syncing and automated calculations help maintain precise payroll records, lowering the chances of payroll mistakes and ensuring employees are paid correctly.
- Cloud-based access: Being fully cloud-based, QuickBooks payroll allows business owners and bookkeepers to manage payroll from anywhere, supporting remote work and on-the-go decision-making.
- Easy integration with accounting: QuickBooks Online Payroll integrates seamlessly with your accounting system, allowing for smooth data flow, simplified reconciliations, and a unified view of business finances.
These advantages make QuickBooks payroll system ideal for business owners seeking efficiency and compliance without extra staff or manual processes.
How befree Helps Small Businesses With QuickBooks Payroll
Managing payroll becomes significantly easier when you combine QuickBooks’ powerful features with befree’s expert outsourcing support. Our team helps small businesses set up, streamline, and optimise their QuickBooks Payroll processes, ensuring compliance, reducing errors, and saving valuable time during busy periods. From onboarding employees to handling pay runs, superannuation, STP reporting, and reconciliations, we make sure your payroll stays accurate, timely, and fully compliant with ATO requirements. With befree as your payroll partner, you get end-to-end support without the cost and stress of hiring in-house staff.Looking to simplify payroll and reduce admin burden? Explore our payroll outsourcing solutions and see how we can support your business.