How do I record a bonus already given to an employee?

I'd be glad to share some information on how to record a bonus for your employee, @AssetAccounting.

You can pay your employees with bonuses along with their regular pay or through a separate paycheck.

If you choose to pay a bonus along with the employee’s regular pay, add the Bonus pay type before you run payroll. Here's how:

1. Select Payroll, then Employees.
2. Choose your employee.
3. From Pay types, click Start or Edit.
4. In the Common pay types section, select Bonus.
5. Choose Save.

If you choose to give the bonus through a separate check, skip to Step 3 in this article: Pay an employee bonus.

Additionally, I'll be sharing these articles to help manage your employee paycheck in QuickBooks: 

• Add overtime pay to an employee
• Enter paycheck totals for your W-2 employees

Feel at ease to comment below if you have further concerns with adding a bonus to show up in your employee's W2. I'll be around to help always. Keep safe!

Hi AssetAccounting,

Thanks for reaching back out.  QuickBooks Online Payroll provides the ability to create a bonus cheque so your employee forms are accurate at year end.  Here's how;

1. From the left menu, open Payroll and then Employees

2. Click on the ▼ dropdown arrow on the Run Payroll button and select Bonus only

3. Choose whether you'd like it calculated as Net pay or Gross pay and hit Continue

4. Select the account you want to Pay from

5. Enter the Pay date

6. Place a checkmark beside the Employee

7. If you have direct deposit enabled, click on it, in the Pay method column and change it to Paper cheque

8. Enter the Bonus amount

9. Type in a Memo, as you feel necessary

10. Proceed by clicking on Preview payroll

11. When ready, hit Submit payroll

12. Enter the Cheque number for reference and then Finish payroll

You're all set!

Feel free to let us know if this is solved.  Your success is our number one goal and we're always happy to help!