Payroll taxes that calculate incorrectly (or not at all) create stress, risk penalties, and eat up time. If your QuickBooks payroll is showing $0.00 for income tax withholding, withholding the wrong amount, or the payroll tax columns just look off, this guide walks you through the most likely causes, step-by-step fixes, and ways to prevent the problem from happening again.
Short summary (what’s happening)
QuickBooks calculates payroll taxes using (a) the employee setup (W-4/federal & state withholding), (b) payroll items and their tax tracking types, (c) the product’s installed payroll tax tables and updates, and (d) any paycheck-level overrides, limits, or stuck transactions. Problems in any of these areas are the usual culprits.
Common causes
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Outdated QuickBooks or payroll tax table
If QuickBooks or the payroll tax table isn’t updated, the software may use old rates or fail to apply updated rules. Updating both QuickBooks and the payroll tax table resolves many calculation mismatches.
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Incorrect employee withholding setup (W-4 / state forms)
If an employee’s filing status, allowances, or “exempt” box is set incorrectly in QuickBooks, federal/state withholding can be zero or wrong. Always match the employee screen to their actual W-4/state withholding form. Payroll item / tax tracking mistakes
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Using a payroll item with the wrong tax tracking type or taxability will cause incorrect tax calculation. Custom deductions or additions marked incorrectly (taxable vs. non-taxable) often cause the issue.
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Earnings below withholding thresholds or employee limits
Some employees don’t reach the minimum thresholds for withholding (especially for federal/state income tax) or have annual/monthly limits set that stop withholding. QuickBooks will show $0.00 in such cases rather than an error.
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Stuck checks, corrupted files, or duplicate items
A stuck/unprocessed paycheck or file issues can interrupt calculations. Duplicate payroll items or corrupted company files can also produce unexpected results.
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Step-by-step fixes (do these in order)
1) Update QuickBooks and the Payroll Tax Table
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In QuickBooks Desktop: Help → Update QuickBooks Desktop → Update Now, then Get Updates and restart.
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After that, update the payroll tax table (follow QuickBooks prompts for payroll updates).
This is often the fastest cure.
2) Verify employee federal/state withholding settings
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Open the employee record → Payroll Info/Wage & Withholding and confirm filing status, dependents, extra withholding, and any “exempt” selections exactly match the employee’s signed W-4 (or state equivalent).
If something’s off, edit and reprocess a test paycheck.
3) Inspect payroll items and tax tracking types
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Go to Lists → Payroll Item List (Desktop) and locate the payroll item(s) used on the paycheck.
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If an item was set up with the wrong tax tracking type, create a new payroll item with correct taxability, mark the bad one “Do Not Use” (rename it), then run the correction steps (in & out) to move amounts correctly. QuickBooks has specific guidance for correcting payroll items.
4) Check for special limits, exemptions, or wages that fall under thresholds
5) Reverse and recreate questionable paychecks (if necessary)
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If a paycheck processed while tax tables were out of date or item setup was wrong, reverse that paycheck (or void/recreate according to your company policy) after updating payroll tables, then reprocess. Many guides recommend reversing affected paychecks as a reliable fix.
6) Run payroll reports and reconcile liabilities
7) Repair company file / contact support for stuck checks or corruption
Prevention checklist (keep problems from returning)
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Always install QuickBooks and payroll tax updates as soon as they’re available.
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Keep employee W-4/state withholding forms on file and review them annually or when an employee reports a life change.
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Standardize payroll item names and tax tracking practices; avoid ad-hoc custom items without documenting taxability.
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Reconcile payroll liabilities monthly so issues are noticed early.
When to call QuickBooks / your accountant
Contact Intuit payroll support if:
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You suspect an account-level issue (stuck checks, tax table errors after updating), or
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You find potential payroll tax liabilities that need adjusting and you use Assisted Payroll and prefer Intuit handle liability corrections.
Also involve your accountant if tax adjustments might trigger amended returns or tax payments — correcting payroll records can have filing implications.
Need Help? Our QuickBooks Team Is Ready — Call 855-707-5814 Today.
FAQ
Q: Why did QuickBooks stop withholding federal tax for one employee only?
A: Most often it’s the employee’s filing status or “exempt” box on the W-4, a payroll item incorrectly set as non-taxable, or the employee’s earnings are below withholding thresholds. Check the employee setup and payroll items first.
Q: I updated QuickBooks but taxes still look wrong — what next?
A: Verify the payroll tax table updated successfully, then check payroll items, employee withholding, and whether the paycheck needs to be reversed and reprocessed after the update. If still unresolved, contact Intuit support.
Q: Will reversing paychecks cause problems with payroll taxes already paid?
A: Reversing a paycheck will change reported amounts; you must reconcile with tax filings and possibly adjust liabilities. Coordinate with your accountant and keep documentation.