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December 3, 2025
Question

ADP QuickBooks Desktop Manual Payroll

  • December 3, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 4 views

Hello,

 

I am looking for someone to assist me in recording my ADP payroll in QuickBooks Desktop. My accountant at the time had shown me how to put it in, but I'm starting to question whether or not it is correct. Below are the accounts that I use:

 

Other Salaries and Wages

Fringe - FICA/Medicare

Fringe - SEP IRA

Fringe - Unemployment/WC

Payroll Liability Benefits

Payroll Liability

 

What made me start to question was that the accountant had set up a Payroll Liability Account but I've noticed I've never used that account in the many months of recording the entries so to me, something is off. Below is how I put in the entries - I enter them as a check and then post to the payroll account.

 

Salaries:

 

Other Salaries & Wages      12,982.10 (Gross)

Fringe - FICA/Medicare        -2,931.16

Fringe - SEP/IRA                  -287.55

Payroll Liability Benefits       -330.84

 

 

Withholdings:

 

Fringe - FICA/Medicare       3,902.28

 

When the Unemployment/WC adjustment is owed, I will make a separate line item in the Withholdings posting.

 

Fringe - FICA/Medicare   3,402.28

Fringe - Unemployment/WC    500

 

I think what is confusing is, is how to make sure I'm recording what the employee owes and what the employer owes correctly. For an example, the $3,902.28 consists of not only the employer liability (FICA/Medicare) but also the employer contribution for the SEP IRA. Shouldn't those be separated and not under FICA/Medicare? Where could I use the Payroll Liability account? Then again maybe the accountant had a method to her madness and this all balances out some how. Not sure. I just know that with payroll liability benefits, we have deductions that come out of our pay and then we pay the vendor. We have FICA/Medicare that the employee and employer owes. For SEP IRA, we have employee contribution and then employer contribution and then we pay the vendor. Should employee contributions be under a payroll liability and the employer contributions be under an expense?  Any knowledge is appreciated, hopefully this makes sense.

 

1 reply

Level 5
December 3, 2025

Good afternoon Aerielafdz!

 

Welcome to the QuickBooks Community! Thank you for sharing your concern as well. However, in this situation, it would be best to consult an accountant to determine the best fit for your business. You can connect with one of our ProAdvisors within your area who can assist you further. Many even offer a free consultation. Use the link below and enter your zipcode. From there, scroll through and choose the one that suits your needs. 

 

 

If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know! My team and I will do our best to assist.