Easy Tech TutsHow to Run Payroll Reports in QuickBooks Online Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Reviewing monthly labor costs or pulling data for a tax filing window means finding the right report inside QuickBooks Online's payroll module rather than reconciling numbers by hand. This guide covers locating, filtering, and exporting your payroll reports.
01Open the Reports hub
Click Reports in the left navigation sidebar to reach the main reports directory.
02Find the payroll section
Scroll down to the Payroll category, or use the search box to jump directly to a report by name.
03Select your target report
Click into a specific report, such as Payroll Summary by Employee or Payroll Tax Liability.
04Set your date range and filters
Adjust the Date Range dropdown to your target pay period, then use the Filter funnel to narrow results by department, team, or individual worker.
05Export and verify
Click the export icon to choose Export to Excel or Export to PDF, then match total net pay figures against your bank feed outflows to confirm accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I filter a payroll report by department instead of viewing the whole company?
Yes, the Filter funnel menu lets you narrow the display rows by specific departments, teams, or individual workers.
What formats can I export payroll reports to?
You can export to either Excel or PDF directly from the export icon above the report table.
How do I verify a payroll report is accurate?
Match the total net pay figures from the exported sheet against your bank feed outflows to confirm they balance.
Do I need to manually recalculate the report after changing filters?
Clicking Run report after adjusting filters lets the engine instantly rebuild the ledger rows with your new parameters.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
