Make managing payroll easy

Save time and stress with automated, more accurate payroll.

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"Payroll can be tedious, but Wave makes it fast, reliable, and worry-free. It automates tasks like tax remittance, so I can focus on what I love about running my business without unexpected surprises."

Sarah Stockdale, Growclass founder
Wave customer Sarah Stockdale
Wave customer Sarah Stockdale

"Payroll can be tedious, but Wave makes it fast, reliable, and worry-free. It automates tasks like tax remittance, so I can focus on what I love about running my business without unexpected surprises."

Sarah Stockdale, Growclass founder

Payroll pricing

No set-up fees or hidden charges.

Monthly fees
Tax service states
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin
$40 USD base fee
+ $6 per active employee
+ $6 per per independent contractor paid
Self service states
All other 36 states
$20 USD base fee
+ $6 per active employee
+ $6 per per independent contractor paid
Details
Wave handles your payroll taxes

These 14 states include tax services with the option to automatically transfer tax payments and file the paperwork with your state tax office and the IRS (this excludes 1099 Filings).

Wave makes filing your own payroll taxes easy

The remaining 36 states are self-serve, which means you’ll have to pay and file the paperwork yourself. Wave makes it easy by showing you what information and how much money you’ll need per payroll.

*Wave charges sales tax as required, including applicable New York Sales and Use Tax in New York State. Taxes charged appear on your invoice.

*Please note payroll tax processing is not available to household employers in the US.

Available in all provinces and territories, except Quebec.
Monthly fee
Details
Monthly fee
$25 CAD base fee
+ $6 per active employee
+ $6 per per independent contractor paid
Details
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    100% payroll accuracy guaranteed

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    Unlimited free direct deposits

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    Automatic tax payments to the CRA

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    Pay yourself, employees, or contractors, hassle-free

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    Seamless integration with Wave Accounting software

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    Get the full picture of your cash flow with wage and tax payment reporting

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    Integrated employee portal for access to pay stubs, tax forms, and vacation leave.

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    Full employee management with ROEs, top ups, benefit calculations, and more

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    Easily generate T4 and T4A slips and summaries

Try payroll software free for 30 days.

Try payroll software free for 30 days.

Get started for free

See all small business payroll features

  • Run your payroll with ease and accuracy.

  • Make payments, record accounting entries, and file tax documents for your independent contractors.

  • Pay employees with one simple click every payday.

  • See a breakdown of your payroll expenses by employee, expense type, and more.

  • Employees get online access to pay stubs and tax forms, and can update their banking and contact details.

  • We consistently update our features to incorporate government relief programs and changes.

  • Generate W2 and 1099 forms without the hassle.

  • Save time with automatic tax filings and payments available in Tax Service States.

  • Track leave time and accruals required to process payroll.

  • Payroll automatically integrates with Wave’s accounting, invoicing, and online payments features to keep your records up-to-date.

  • Get a priority connection to our customer support team via live chat Monday-Friday.

  • Connect with our support team via email for prompt assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the 30-day free trial work?

Upon processing your first payroll, you can use Wave Payroll for up to 30 days, commitment-free. At any time, you can activate to start your billing cycle and gain access to items like tax filing and approving payrolls beyond the current month. See our full US terms here, and our full Canadian terms here.

What if I want to pause my payroll for a period of time?

You can deactivate your payroll account at any time by navigating to Settings > Billing > Deactivate.

When can I begin using small business payroll software?

You don't have to wait for a new quarter or year to start using payroll software—you can start running payroll at any time! And if you’re switching providers, you can make the transition easily by importing all the necessary forms and information in just a few minutes. Check out our handy support article to learn how you can switch to using Wave’s payroll feature.

What are the benefits of using small business payroll software?

Doing payroll manually involves confusing and time-consuming calculations. Not to mention the stress of worrying about making errors and winding up in a tax audit (yikes!).

Payroll software saves you time so you can focus on the best parts of running your business. And, in the long run, an online payroll software provider like Wave can save you a lot of money by reducing human error so you can avoid tax penalties (and who doesn’t love saving money?).

How do I run payroll for my small business?

We totally get it—running payroll for your small business can seem like a daunting task, especially when you've got so much on your plate. That's why a payroll software like Wave's can help ease the burden of doing payroll on your own. We've also crafted a guide to small business payroll to help you navigate the process.

Can I pay independent contractors with Wave's payroll software?

You sure can! Wave Payroll supports paying both employees and independent contractors when you run payroll. The proper tax forms—1099 in the US and T4-A in Canada—are also generated for you.

Why is the base price different for some US states?

The base rate is higher in tax service states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin) because Wave automatically transfers tax payments and files the necessary paperwork with your state tax office and or IRS.

In self-service states (all other 36 states) Wave Payroll does not make payments or file on your behalf.

You're the boss. Now be Employee of the Month.

Get started for free

You're the boss. Now be Employee of the Month.

Get started for free