How do I restart the process of connecting my bank account to payroll?

Hello, @littlestateflowe.

Getting your bank account connected will be determined by what product you're using! If you're using QuickBooks Online Payroll Core, Quickbooks Online PAyroll Premium, QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite, or QuickBooks Online Payroll Full Service, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Gather your bank account info and principal officer address

1. Get your bank info. You may be able to use your online banking user ID and password, or you can use your routing number and account number on a check. (However, don't use the routing number from deposit slips.)
2. You may be asked for your principal officer’s physical address. This can't be a P.O. Box. As a licensed money transmitter, Intuit Payments must comply with legal requirements, applicable laws, and regulations.

Step 2: Set up your bank account in your chart of accounts

Let’s get your bank account added to your chart of accounts. This is important so your payroll transactions post to the correct register in QuickBooks.

1. Select Settings ⚙ and then Chart of Accounts.
2. Select New to create a new account.
3. In the Account Type ▼ dropdown menu choose Bank.
4. In the Detail Type ▼ dropdown, select the type of bank account.
5. Give your new account a name. You can use the info under the detail type to add a name that fits.
6. Optional: Add a description.
7. If you’re adding a sub-account, select Is sub-account and then enter the parent account. 
8. In the When you want to start tracking your finances from this account in QuickBooks ▼ dropdown, select a time period.
   • Select Today if the account you're tracking is brand new as of today. In the Account Balance field, enter the amount in the account as of today.
   • If you started the account on another date, select Other. In the Select a date field, enter the date you want to start tracking transactions in QuickBooks. In the Account Balance field, enter the balance of the account for the date you choose.
9. When you're done, select Save and Close.

Step 3: Check for pending tax payments and payroll transactions (direct deposits or paychecks)

The next step is to verify you don’t have any pending tax payments or payroll transactions. This is important to be sure your bank account change is successful and the payroll funds withdraw from the correct account.

Pending tax payments

From the left menu, select Taxes then Payroll Tax.  Select the Payments or Tax Payments tab.

• If there are any payments dated for today’s date or earlier, they will be taken from the current bank account.
• If there are any payments dated after today’s date, contact us for assistance with handling these payments.

Pending payroll transactions

Select Payroll, then select Employees. Next select Paycheck list below the Run Payroll button.

• If there are any paychecks dated one business day or sooner from today’s date, then the funds will be taken from the current bank account.
• If there are any paychecks dated two business days or later (and it is before 6:00 PM PT), then you may delete them. Select the box next to each paycheck and select the Delete button above the paychecks. You’ll add them back later at the end of Step 6.

Step 4: Change your bank account with QuickBooks Online Payroll service

Now it's time to change your bank account with the payroll service.

1. Select Settings ⚙ then Payroll Settings.
2. Look for the section titled Bank Accounts.
3. In the section titled Bank Accounts, select Edit ✎.
4. Select Update.
5. Select Add new bank account.
6. If you bank with one of the 8 banks listed, select the bank and enter your online banking user ID and password. Otherwise, search your bank name or select Enter bank info manually. Enter your routing and account number, then select Save.
7. Select Accept and Submit.

If you're unable to change your bank account in QuickBooks Online, we need to complete your bank account change for you.

1. Complete the QuickBooks Bank Account Change form. Note: This form will open in Adobe Reader. Make sure to complete the entire form and have the officer of the company sign it.
2. Upload your completed bank account change form. Your request should be completed same day if you send it to us by 3:00 PM PT. Any requests sent after, are processed the next business day.

Step 5: Verify your bank account

Within 2-3 business days, we'll verify your new account with a test transaction. A few things to know about test transactions before you get started:

• After changing your bank account information, a test transaction should appear in your bank statement in 2-3 business days
• This amount should be a debit and credit of less than $1.00 from Intuit Payroll Service
• You can call your bank or check your bank statement online to verify the amount
• Make sure the test transaction is cleared (not pending) on your bank statement before proceeding, otherwise the bank verification will fail.

To verify your new bank account:

1. After you see the cleared test transaction in your bank statement, open QuickBooks Online and sign in.
2. Select Payroll and select Overview.
3. In the TO DO list, find the Check your bank account item, then select Edit .
4. Select Verify Amount.
5. Enter the amount of the test transaction (no decimals) in both fields.
6. Select Verify.

Step 6: Change your bank account in your accounting preferences

Now that your bank account is verified and ready to use with your payroll service, the last step is to change your bank account in your accounting preferences. This will ensure your payroll transactions and tax payments post to the correct account in your books.

1. Select Settings ⚙, then Payroll settings.
2. In the Accounting section at the bottom of the page, select Edit ✎.
3. In the Paycheck and payroll tax payments select Edit ✎. From the Bank account ▼ dropdown, select the account you set up in "Step 2: Set up your bank account in your chart of accounts."
4. Select Continue, then Done and Done.

Once the bank account is updated, you can recreate any paychecks you may have deleted in Step 3.

If you aren't using the products I listed at the beginning of this post, you can check out this article for full instructions on all of our products: Change your payroll bank account.

Let me know if you have other questions, and have a fantastic afternoon!