Paying Employees with Paper Checks
Why You Might Use Paper Checks
Sometimes it makes more sense to issue a paper paycheck rather than using direct deposit through Beyond. Common situations include:
- The company or employee hasn’t set up direct deposit.
- Handing out bonus checks in person, such as at the end of the year.
- Making a one-time payment to a contractor or vendor.
- Needing to quickly provide a check on payday if payroll wasn’t processed on time. (Even in this case, it’s essential to run payroll afterward so all records and taxes are accurate.)
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You can even print professional-looking checks using check stock to save time and avoid handwriting them.
Note: Beyond supports printing checks, but it does not print or mail them on your behalf. Direct deposit requires prior approval and employees must have their bank details entered into their profile.
Why Accuracy Matters
Since Beyond calculates wages, deductions, and taxes – and also files and remits payroll taxes for your business – accurate reporting depends on both the information you enter and running payroll properly, even when paying with paper checks. That’s why every check should still go through the payroll system.
Customizing a Pay Run for Paper Checks
When processing a special pay run, you can make adjustments:
- Edit pay run settings.
- Choose which employees are paid by paper check.
- Take advantage of Beyond’s Tax Accuracy Guarantee.
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There’s no extra charge for running off-cycle or special payrolls, so you can process them whenever needed.
Adjusting Pay Run Settings
At the top of the payroll page, click your payroll settings to make changes. This is useful for one-time or off-cycle runs.
- You can adjust the pay period and check date.
- These changes will reset back to default after the run is complete or when you log out.
- If you’re issuing paper checks to employees who usually use direct deposit, check the option “Hold all direct deposits and process as paper checks?”
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Important: Do not select “Hold all employee deductions” for a regular paycheck. This should only be used for special payments like bonuses, reimbursements, or other supplemental wages. Required deductions such as garnishments or levies cannot be removed.
Selecting Workers for Paper Checks
Choose the employees who will be paid by paper check. Use Uncheck All to start fresh and select only specific individuals if needed.
After customizing, click Next to review and approve payroll as usual.
Beyond’s Tax Accuracy Guarantee
We stand behind the accuracy of our payroll tax calculations. As long as the information you provide is correct and complete – such as company details, employee data, tax IDs, and rates – Beyond guarantees the accuracy of the calculations, filings, and payments we handle for you.
In rare cases, Beyond may require additional information or actions from you to complete tax filings. If the requested information is not provided, those filings and payments will not be covered by the guarantee.
Need Help?
If you still have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team will be happy to provide answers and assist you in any way we can.