Payroll in KontoCore: what it does today

How payroll works in KontoCore: importing provider payroll, previewing calculations for 2026 federal and Ohio rules, and which filing and payment steps need a provider.

Plans: Payroll import and W-2 readiness: Core and above. Calculation preview: rolling out
Availability: Rolling out in prelaunch
For: Owners, Bookkeepers, Accountants
In KontoCore: Payroll

In plain English

KontoCore keeps payroll correct in your books. Paying employees and filing payroll taxes still happen through a payroll provider.

What this does

Payroll records employee pay, withholdings, and employer taxes as balanced journal entries, and tracks the liabilities you owe until they are paid.

Payroll calculations are produced by KontoCore’s computation engine for 2026 federal rules and Ohio state rules. Independent CPA verification of these calculations is still in progress, so review every result before relying on it.

KontoCore does not move money to employees or tax agencies and does not file returns on your behalf. Those steps need a connected payroll provider or your existing payroll service.

Payroll setup: schedules, pay items, and coverageConfigure pay schedules, earnings and deduction items, employer tax settings, payroll accounts, and the jurisdiction coverage check before running payroll.Running payroll and pay statementsPrepare a pay run, review calculated gross-to-net figures, approve and post the payroll journal, and produce pay statements — or import a run from your provider.Payroll filings and compliance readinessSee which payroll returns and year-end forms are due, check readiness, and prepare figures — while filing itself happens through a provider or your accountant.Payroll liabilities and tax depositsTrack withheld and employer payroll taxes and deductions owed, record deposits and remittances, and reconcile payroll liability accounts to zero.Payroll history and reportsReview past pay runs, payroll registers, employee earnings, tax and deduction summaries, and job-costed labor, and export them for your accountant.Payroll filing worksheets: 941, 940, W-2, and W-3Prepare 941, 940, W-2, and W-3 worksheets from posted payroll, review them, and mark them manually reviewed — worksheets are not e-filed by KontoCore.

Coverage at a glance

Area	Status
Import payroll from a provider or file	Available
Payroll journal entries and liability tracking	Available
Federal 2026 calculation	Rolling out — pending CPA verification
Ohio state calculation	Rolling out — pending CPA verification
Other states and local taxes	Not covered — use your provider
Direct deposit / tax payments	Provider connection required
Electronic filing of payroll returns	Provider connection required

Provider and availability notes

Pay delivery, tax deposits, and return filing require a connected payroll provider.
Calculations outside 2026 federal and Ohio rules are not provided.

Permissions

Payroll data is restricted to owners, administrators, and users with payroll permission.

Common mistakes

Treating a calculation preview as filed or paid.
Running KontoCore calculations for employees in states other than Ohio.

Payroll setup: schedules, pay items, and coverageConfigure pay schedules, earnings and deduction items, employer tax settings, payroll accounts, and the jurisdiction coverage check before running payroll.Running payroll and pay statementsPrepare a pay run, review calculated gross-to-net figures, approve and post the payroll journal, and produce pay statements — or import a run from your provider.Payroll liabilities and tax depositsTrack withheld and employer payroll taxes and deductions owed, record deposits and remittances, and reconcile payroll liability accounts to zero.Payroll filings and compliance readinessSee which payroll returns and year-end forms are due, check readiness, and prepare figures — while filing itself happens through a provider or your accountant.Employees and payroll importMaintain the employee directory, import payroll journals, and prepare for W-2 reporting.

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Last reviewed October 6, 2026