S Corp Owners - What payroll service do you recommend for small business?

I've been running my S Corp for about 5 years now and have tried several payroll services. Gusto is definitely popular but their pricing has increased over the years - that $40 plan doesn't exist anymore. For a solo S Corp owner, I'd recommend looking at OnPay. They handle all the same tax filings (monthly deposits, 941 quarterlies, W-2s) and their pricing is more straightforward. Last I checked they were charging a base fee plus a per-person fee, which works out well for very small businesses. Some others to consider: Square Payroll and Patriot Software both offer similar services at competitive rates. The key is finding one that automates all the tax filings and payments - that's what you're really paying for as an S Corp owner. Just make sure whatever you choose handles state unemployment tax filings too. That's where some of the cheaper options fall short and could leave you scrambling at tax time.

After struggling with payroll for my S Corp for almost a year, I finally tried taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it's been a game changer for me. I was spending way too much time trying to figure out reasonable compensation requirements and proper payroll setup. Their system analyzed my business financials and helped me set up the optimal S Corp payroll structure. What's cool is they actually review your specific situation rather than just giving generic advice like most payroll companies. They even helped me understand exactly how much I should be paying myself as reasonable compensation vs distributions, which was super helpful with the IRS scrutinizing S Corps more lately. The service integrates with most payroll providers too, so you can use their guidance with whatever payroll system you end up choosing.

I was initially skeptical about adding another service on top of payroll costs, but after getting audited last year over my S Corp compensation, I decided to try taxr.ai. Wish I had found them sooner! Their analysis showed my salary was significantly under what the IRS would consider "reasonable compensation" for my industry. They reviewed my business structure, revenue, and responsibilities and gave me specific documentation to back up my compensation decisions. They even provided templates for corporate resolutions to formally establish my salary. I've been sleeping much better knowing my S Corp setup is solid now. Their payroll tax calculator also helped me understand exactly how different salary/distribution ratios would affect my overall tax situation. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

I spent THREE HOURS on hold with the IRS trying to get my EIN verification for setting up payroll! Absolute nightmare. Then a friend told me about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - you can check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically they get you through to an actual IRS agent without the wait. I was honestly blown away. Got my EIN verification done in 20 minutes once I was connected. If you're setting up an S Corp payroll for the first time, you'll probably need to talk to the IRS at some point, and this makes it so much easier. After that, I went with OnPay for my actual payroll processing. It's about $40/month plus $6 per person, so just $46 total for me as a solo S Corp owner. They handle all the tax filings and payments automatically.

I thought Claimyr sounded like a complete scam when I first heard about it. There's no way to skip the IRS line, right? Wrong. I was desperate after trying for DAYS to get through about my EIN verification for my new S Corp payroll. Tried it and had an IRS agent on the phone within 30 minutes. They literally called ME when an agent was about to pick up. Got my EIN verification sorted, got my state unemployment account set up, and was able to run my first payroll that same week. If you're just setting up your S Corp payroll, save yourself the headache and use this service at least for the initial setup calls. Then go with something like OnPay or Gusto for the ongoing payroll processing.

I've been using Wave Payroll for my S Corp for about 2 years now. It's one of the most affordable options I found at around $20/month plus $6 per employee. They handle federal tax filings and payments, but you need to check if they support all the state requirements for your location. The interface is simple and it gets the job done for basic payroll needs. If you're just paying yourself as the owner, it's more than adequate. The only downside is their customer service can be slow to respond sometimes.

Has anyone tried doing their own payroll through the IRS EFTPS system? I'm trying to keep costs down since I'm just starting my S Corp.

I'm currently using Justworks for my S Corp payroll and it's been solid for about 18 months now. They're around $49/month plus $8 per employee, so a bit pricier than some options mentioned here, but they include workers' comp coverage which is nice. What I really like is their dashboard makes it super easy to see exactly what's being filed and when. They handle all federal and state filings automatically, plus they have really responsive customer support when you need help. One thing to consider - if you're planning to add employees soon, look at services that offer benefits administration too. I started solo but added two part-time contractors last year, and having everything in one platform made the transition seamless. Also seconding what others said about not trying to DIY the payroll. The S Corp requirements are way more complex than regular contractor payments, and the penalties for messing up aren't worth the savings.

I've been using Gusto for my S Corp for about 3 years now and while their pricing has definitely increased, I still think they offer good value. Currently paying around $45/month plus $6 per person for the base plan that handles all the federal and state filings. What I really appreciate about Gusto is their user interface - it's incredibly intuitive and they send clear notifications before every deadline. They also have great educational resources that helped me understand S Corp payroll requirements when I was starting out. One tip for anyone just getting started: make sure whatever service you choose can handle your state's specific requirements. Some of the cheaper options don't support automatic state unemployment filings in all states, which can leave you scrambling. Also agree with others here about not going the DIY route. I made that mistake initially and the stress of worrying about compliance issues wasn't worth the cost savings. A good payroll service pays for itself just in peace of mind.