by Intuit•69• Updated 2 months ago
Learn when to send your direct deposit payroll to pay your employees on time.
Getting paid on time is important for your employees. We help you understand when to send your payroll based on your direct deposit lead time.
Step 1: Determine what your direct deposit lead time is
Your direct deposit lead time depends on what payroll product you use.
Note: Not sure which payroll service you have? Here's how to find your payroll service.
For a better experience, open this article in QuickBooks Online. Launch side-by-side view 
If you use this product, you can enjoy Same-day or Next-day direct deposit. In some instances, you might be on a 5-day direct deposit lead time.
You can also view or change your direct deposit funding time.
If you use QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Assisted, you have a Next-day (1-day) funding time. This means your workers are paid the next banking day after you send your payroll to us.
If you use QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Basic, Standard or Enhanced, you have a 2-day funding time. This means your workers are paid 2 banking days after you send your payroll to us.
Step 2: Determine when to submit or approve payroll
Now that you know what your payroll lead time is, here are some examples of direct deposit submission for a Wednesday and Friday payday.
Note that direct deposits are processed only on banking days. Check out How do federal holidays affect my direct deposit? to learn more.
| Direct deposit funding time | If the payday is… | Submit payroll by |
| Same-day lead time | • Wednesday • Friday | • Wednesday before 7:00 AM PT • Friday before 7:00 AM PT |
| Next-day or 1-day lead time | • Wednesday • Friday | • Tuesday before 5:00 PM PT • Thursday before 5:00 PM PT |
| 2-day lead time | • Wednesday • Friday | • Monday before 5:00 PM PT • Wednesday before 5:00 PM PT |
| 5-day lead time | • Wednesday • Friday | • Wednesday (a week prior) before 5:00 PM PT • Friday (a week prior) before 5:00 PM PT |
When you’re ready to pay your employees, be sure you have funds in your account to cover the payroll on the day it’s submitted. Keep in mind, Intuit won’t process your payroll on weekends or state or federal holidays.
View or change your direct deposit funding time
For a better experience, open this article in QuickBooks Online. Launch side-by-side view
View direct deposit lead time
- Go to Settings ⚙️, then Payroll settings.
- Scroll to the Direct deposit section. You'll see your funding time above your direct deposit limits.
Change direct deposit lead time
You can temporarily change your funding time to 5-day if you need to process a direct deposit payroll that’s higher than your direct deposit limit. Direct deposit limits don't apply, but you'll need to send your payroll 5 days in advance of your paycheck date.
Note that if you want to switch back to a faster funding after switching to a 5-day funding, you must wait at least 60 days and complete at least 4 payrolls from the time your 5-day funding became effective. Do this as a last resort and check out Get help if you’re over a direct deposit limit for other options.
To change your funding time to 5-day:
- Select Settings ⚙, then Payroll settings.
- Select Edit ✎ in the Direct deposit section.
- Select 5-day, the Required date, then Save.
- Select Done.
To request for faster funding time:
- Select Settings ⚙, then Payroll settings.
- Select Edit ✎ in the Direct deposit section.
- Select Request same-day payroll, then follow the prompts.
Requests will be reviewed within 1-2 business days and updates for the request will be sent from [email protected] to the payroll principle officer's email.
If you’re using QuickBooks Desktop Payroll, you can’t view or change your funding time in your product.
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