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Bolto Payroll helps companies run compliant payroll for US-based employees with minimal operational overhead. This section covers how payroll works in Bolto, when to use it, and how it fits into the broader Bolto platform.

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What Payroll Means in Bolto

Payroll in Bolto is designed for companies that:
  • Employ workers directly in the United States
  • Already have (or are setting up) the required federal and state registrations
  • Want a streamlined way to manage wages, taxes, and filings without juggling multiple systems
Bolto handles payroll processing, tax calculations, and filings while giving you clear visibility into what’s required at each step.

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Payroll vs EOR vs Contractors

Bolto supports multiple worker types. Payroll is used when:
  • Payroll: You employ US-based employees directly through your own legal entity
  • Employer of Record (EOR): Bolto employs workers on your behalf in countries where you don’t have an entity
  • Contractors: You pay independent contractors without running payroll
If you’re unsure which model applies to your team, Bolto can help you determine the correct setup.

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How Payroll Works in Bolto

Once payroll is enabled for your company, the lifecycle looks like this:
1

Set up your company

Complete the guided payroll setup: company information, authorized signer, payroll configuration, tax setup, agreements, and a funding bank account. See Company Setup.
2

Complete state registrations

Register with each state where you have employees — or let Bolto file the registrations for you. See State Registrations & IDs.
3

Add your employees

Invite employees to self-onboard with their personal details, tax withholding, direct deposit, and Form I-9. See Adding Employees.
4

Run payroll

Bolto drafts each payroll automatically on your pay schedule. Review, approve before the deadline (or enable Auto-Pay), and Bolto handles payment, taxes, and filings. See Running Payroll.
After setup is submitted, Bolto reviews and verifies your company information. Setup typically takes about 5 business days for new payroll customers, or 2–6+ weeks if you’re migrating from another payroll provider (your existing team and payroll history are carried over as part of the migration).

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What You’ll Need to Get Started

Running payroll typically requires:
  • Basic company information
  • A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
  • State registrations where employees are located
  • Pay schedules and employee details
You don’t need everything on day one — Bolto allows you to progress through setup while completing required registrations in parallel.

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Who Can Do What

Payroll access is controlled by your team members’ roles: You manage roles from the Users page in your administration settings — see Users & Roles.
The authorized signer you provide during setup is the person who signs payroll authorizations and filings on your company’s behalf — it’s a record on your company, not a separate login or role.

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Explore the Payroll Guides

Company Setup

The information you’ll need for payroll setup and where to find it.

Taxes & Registration

Manage tax jurisdictions, and let Bolto register with state agencies for you.

Adding Employees

Add employees and guide them through self-onboarding, withholding, and I-9.

Running Payroll

Pay schedules, payroll groups, approval deadlines, Auto-Pay, and off-cycle runs.

Time Off & Timesheets

PTO policies, time-off requests, and hourly timesheets.

Benefits & Deductions

Benefit plans, payroll deductions, garnishments, and benefits integrations.

Paystubs, Documents & Reports

Paystubs, W-2s, filing authorizations, and payroll reports.