Patriot Payroll is an online system designed to automate employee salary and tax deduction calculations. Its features include unlimited pay runs, contractor payments, and free access to expert support, payroll setup, and an employee portal. Its basic and full-service payroll options (which cost $10 and $30 per month, respectively, plus $4 per employee) make it ideal for small nonprofits and mom-and-pop businesses looking for an affordable solution.
What We Recommend Patriot Payroll For
Patriot is one of our top picks for best small business payroll software scoring a 3.74 out of 5 boasting a user-friendly platform that lets you run payroll online in just three steps. Its standout features include free direct deposits and integration with AP Intego for automatic workers’ compensation insurance premium payments.
Patriot Payroll also has affordable plans, including a budget-friendly option for businesses that prefer do-it-yourself (DIY) payroll tax filings. If you’d rather have Patriot file and submit payroll tax deposits and reports for you, consider its full-service plan. Payroll packages with HR and time tracking tools are also available, including an accounting solution.
In short, Patriot Payroll is best for:
- Mom-and-pop businesses: Patriot Software offers an inexpensive solution for paying employees and computing payroll taxes. While you have to handle payroll tax filings with its basic option, the plan costs only $10 monthly plus $4 per employee—a viable option if you have a handful of employees. Alternatively, you can choose its full-service payroll priced at $30 monthly plus $4 per employee.
- Churches and small nonprofits: Church and nonprofit leaders typically wear multiple hats, and payroll is only a small percentage of their overall duties. Patriot’s easy setup process, along with its affordability, is why it makes sense. As one of our leading church payroll services, Patriot Payroll can help set up the system for free; new users simply need to provide basic business details. Those who prefer a DIY solution can use its easy-to-follow payroll startup wizard.
- Employers that hire independent contractors: With Patriot Software, you don’t need to run separate payrolls for contractors. Its platform can handle payroll processing for both employees and independent contractors.
When Patriot Payroll Would Not Be a Good Fit
- Businesses looking for employee benefits: Unlike popular payroll providers such as Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll, Patriot Payroll doesn’t offer health insurance plans or provide benefits program management. For more suitable options, check out our guide on the top HR payroll software, which usually offer benefits administration.
- Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that require quick direct deposits: While Patriot Software offers free direct deposits, it requires a processing time of four days. This is longer than many payroll services, which usually offer at least a two-day turnaround. We recommend QuickBooks Payroll if you require next- and same-day direct deposits. Square Payroll is also a good choice since it offers next-day direct deposits via its Cash App and even instant payouts with its Instant Payments option.
- Companies with international employees: Patriot Payroll only handles employee pay processing for US-based companies. If you have a global workforce, then you should consider other payroll providers. Check out our guide on the best international payroll services.
Looking for something different? Read our guide to the best payroll services for small businesses to find a service or software that fits your requirements.
Patriot Payroll Overview
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly pricing with multiple payroll packages and add-on options | Direct deposits require a four-day lead time |
| Unlimited pay runs | Lacks access to employee benefits |
| US-based customer support with extended weekday hours | Multi-state filings cost extra |
| Free payroll setup, expert support, and direct deposits | Limited third-party software integrations |
Patriot Payroll Pricing
Aside from a basic option with DIY tax filings, Patriot Payroll pricing plans include three full-service payroll packages—one with payroll and automated tax filings, one with HR tools, and one with HR and time tracking functionalities. All plans also come with unlimited payroll runs, paid time off (PTO) accruals, electronic Form W-2s, and free direct deposits. You can even use its basic and full-service options to pay contractors.
Basic Payroll | Full Service Payroll | Full-Service Payroll + HR Software | Full-Service Payroll + HR and Time and Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Base Monthly Fee | $10 | $30 | $36 | $42 |
Per Employee or Contractor Pricing | $4 | $4 | $6 | $8 |
Unlimited Pay Runs | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Multiple Pay Frequencies and Locations | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
PTO Accruals | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Free Payroll Setup and Expert Support (Phone, Email, and Chat) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Tax Filing and Deposits (Federal, State, and Local) | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Year-End Payroll Tax Filing | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
1099 Filing (Optional) | N/A | With add-on fees | ||
Tax Filing Accuracy Guarantee | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
What’s great about Patriot Payroll’s pricing scheme is the flexibility—you can purchase its HR and time tracking tools as add-ons in case you only signed up for its basic option. If you need accounting tools, Patriot has accounting software that integrates seamlessly with its payroll module.
Patriot Software Add-ons
- 1099 e-filings (for Basic Payroll subscribers only): $20 for up to five 1099 e-filings; an additional $2 per 1099 is required for six to 35 filings (no additional charge for 36 or more)
- Multistate payroll tax filing: $12 monthly for each additional state
- Time tracking: $6 plus $2 per employee monthly
- Basic HR/employee data management tools: $6 plus $2 per employee monthly
- Accounting solution: $15 monthly for the basic option; $25 monthly for the premium version
Patriot Payroll Features
Patriot Payroll’s online tools aim to help SMBs process employee salaries easily and quickly. In addition to having an intuitive interface, its software is mobile-friendly. This allows you to run payroll directly from smartphones and tablets without having to download an app—provided there’s an available internet connection.
Setting up its system is also a breeze. Apart from an easy-to-follow DIY payroll setup wizard, Patriot’s representatives will walk new users through the setup process for free.
You can also check out our guide on setting up and running payroll with Patriot, which includes a video walk-through.
Payroll Processing
With Patriot Payroll, employers can run unlimited payrolls each month and pay employees, including contractors, via direct deposits or paper checks. Its platform can handle all pay frequencies—from weekly and biweekly to semimonthly and monthly. You can also add up to five pay rates for each hourly employee, as well as create custom working hours, employee deductions, and repeating payment types (such as car and housing allowances).
In addition, its integration with AP Intego allows you to automatically pay workers’ compensation insurance premiums during each pay run. If you’re operating out of Washington or Wyoming, Patriot will collect and file workers’ comp for you. Both features are available for free for Basic Payroll and Full Service Payroll subscribers.
Patriot Payroll has a three-step process that lets you enter pay details, approve payroll, and print employee paychecks.
(Source: Patriot Payroll)
Payroll Tax Filing
While Patriot’s Basic Payroll plan requires DIY tax payments and filings, getting one of its Full Service Payroll options grants you access to automated payroll tax deposits and filings for federal, local, and state taxes, as well as quarterly and year-end submissions of Forms 940, 941, W-2, and W-3. Employees can access their tax forms through Patriot’s self-service portal, MY Portal. If you require multi state filings, note that its Full Service Payroll packages include tax filing for one state only. You have to pay $12 monthly for each additional state filing.
Full Service Payroll users are covered by Patriot’s tax filing accuracy guarantee. This means that if its representative makes a mistake in depositing and filing payroll taxes, then Patriot will cover all the penalties and interest payments.
For those who employ independent contractors, Patriot Software has an optional 1099 e-filing feature in which it will submit 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms to applicable government agencies. This service is provided for free for Full Service Payroll clients but charges add-on fees (starting at $20) for Basic Payroll subscribers.
Patriot Payroll also makes managing payroll tax calculations easy for employers with staff across business locations. By assigning a primary work location to each employee in Patriot Payroll, its system will automatically compute the applicable taxes based on where your staff works.
PTO Accruals
You can set up accrual rules on how many PTO hours an employee can earn based on the total number of actual hours worked. Patriot Software will then automatically compute and add the PTO hours to each employee’s balance.
Patriot Payroll lets you select whether or not the employees’ PTO hours will be carried over to the next calendar year.
(Source: Patriot Software)
Time Tracking
Unless you get Patriot Payroll’s highest tier that bundles payroll, time tracking, and basic HR features together, you can purchase its time and attendance module (monthly fee of $6 plus $2 per employee) as an add-on to your payroll plan. In addition to viewing time sheets, this solution lets you check PTO balances and create custom overtime rules.
Further, employees can also clock in/out via the MY Portal. Given the seamless integration between Patriot products, all approved employee work hours to be paid are automatically sent to its payroll module.
Employee Data Management
Patriot’s HR solution includes basic tools for managing employee information and storing documents such as health insurance plans, company policies, and your staff handbook. Designating employees as managers in the system also allows you to add direct reports to your people managers. Patriot will even keep a history of the movements so you can easily track reporting line changes.
Patriot Payroll pricing for its HR solution is $6 plus $2 per employee monthly, and you can add this to your Basic Payroll plan or even to Patriot’s accounting module. If you prefer automated payroll tax filings, consider subscribing to one of its premium Full Service Payroll packages that includes HR tools.
Payroll Reports
With Patriot Payroll, you can access a variety of reports to check payroll tax computations, direct deposit payment details, employee information, and more. Here are some of its reports:
- Payroll register
- Payroll tax deposit report
- Payroll tax filing report
- Individual paycheck history
- Pay check/deposit payment report
- PTO balances
- Assigned deductions report
- Payroll tax liabilities report
- W-2 summary report
Patriot Payroll lets you share and save reports either as PDF or CSV files.
(Source: Patriot Software)
Online Employee Portal
With Patriot’s online portal, MY Portal, your employees can check their payslips, view PTO balances, and access Form W-2s. If you subscribe to the provider’s time tracking add-on or its highest Full Service Payroll tier, then your employees can clock in/out via the online portal.
Third-Party Software Integration
Patriot Payroll has limited integration options with third-party solutions. As of this writing, it integrates only with QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) and QuickBooks Online.
Customer Support
Free live expert support is available for all Patriot users. It has a US-based team you can contact via chat, email, and phone, from Mondays to Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Patriot Payroll Ease of Use
- Intuitive dashboard
- Mobile responsive platform
- Free and easy payroll setup
- Expert US-based support with extended weekday hours
Patriot Payroll is easy to use, and new users won’t have a challenging time setting up their payroll since the provider offers this service for free. Even if you subscribe to Patriot Payroll in the middle of the month or quarter, the provider can still help input your staff’s payroll history for you.
However, if you want to handle payroll setup yourself, use its setup wizard. The process isn’t difficult, plus you can opt to skip some of the steps and go back as needed.
Patriot Software also has a mobile-friendly interface that enables you to access it from any tablet and smartphone device—although this requires an available internet connection. And in case you need expert support, you can contact its US-based team via phone, chat, and email.
Top Patriot Payroll Alternatives
Best for: Small businesses | Best for: QuickBooks accounting small business users | Best for: Square POS users, particularly retailers and restaurants |
Base monthly fee from: $39–$149 | Base monthly fee from: $45–$125 | Base monthly fee from: $35 |
Per employee monthly fee from: $6–$12 | Per employee monthly fee from: $4–$10 | Per employee monthly fee from: $5 |
If you’re not sure if Patriot Payroll is right for you, see how it compares with other top payroll systems.
What Users Think About Patriot Payroll
Many of the Patriot Payroll reviews online are positive. Users who left feedback on third-party review sites like G2 and Capterra highlighted its affordability, easy setup process, and user-friendly interface as its best features. They also complimented its support team, citing the helpfulness of its customer representatives. On the other hand, some reviewers said that while it has made payroll processing an easier task for them, they wished the provider offered more integration options, reporting tools, and a faster direct deposit timeline.
At the time of publication, Patriot Payroll earned the following scores on popular user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.8 out of 5 based on more than 2,700 reviews
- G2: 4.8 out of 5 based on some 400 reviews
These are some of the trends I noticed when reading through online Patriot Payroll reviews:
Users Like | Users Don’t Like |
|---|---|
Affordability | Very limited integration options |
Easy to set up and use | Slow direct deposit turnaround times |
Helpful and knowledgeable support team | Payroll reports aren’t robust |
Bottom Line
Patriot Payroll is an ideal choice for small business owners looking for an inexpensive way to process employee salaries. It has a low-cost DIY option and full-service payroll packages that are reasonably priced. Plus, you get a lot of freebies that include direct deposits, payroll setup, expert support, and an online employee portal.
Sign up for Patriot Payroll’s 30-day free trial—no credit card required.
