Compare Top 10 Single Touch Payroll Solutions
We reviewed dozens of Australian STP solutions to help you choose the right one
Top Solutions for Small Businesses
1. Easy Payslip
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Overall 4.7/5 Stars
This solution has has the easiest STP set up of all the solutions tested. It's very user friendly and ensures you can set up STP with no dramas. For those who are worried or struggling to do STP, Easy Payslip would be our pick. Its technology is designed so you don't have to call the ATO or fuss with linking your software ID, it does it all for you.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Tracks holiday, sick and long-service leave
Fully customisable payslips to suit your business
Award-winning design
Platforms
2. Key Pay
Overall 4.2/5 Stars
Their webinars dragged on for over 30 minutes which was frustrating. This is not ideal when you just want a few quick steps. Their actual set-up process doesn’t take too long and is easy to follow. Key Pay requires you to contact the ATO and provide your software ID, this ID notify the ATO of who you are so you can do STP accurately.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Tracks holiday, sick and long-service leave
Award interpretation
Rostering
Platforms
3. Reckon One
Overall 4.1/5 Stars
Reckon One has an easy to follow webinar that is clear and informative. In saying this, their webinar is quite long so ensure you allow about 20 minutes for setting up STP. In order to link up the MyGov connect a multi-factor authentication is required. This isn’t difficult as long as you have a mobile on hand. It’s nice how they have clear totals for the pay event at the top of the screen, such as; “total gross”, “total PAYG” and “employee count”. Slightly confusing mix of products. there used to be a free app available only on mobile but it has been discontinued
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and manages leave
Unlimited employees on payroll
Good functionality
Platforms
4. Cloud Payroll Micro Pay
There are no online tutorials or set-up guide documents easily available, making it hard to see the ease of STP. If you are still interested in this solution contact them via email or see ratings for their ease of payroll here.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and manages leave
Pay per pay run on premium plan
Great functionality
Platforms
Overall 4.0/5 Stars
5. Sage Micro Pay
Overall 3.2/5 Stars
There are no online tutorials or set-up guide documents easily available, making it hard to see the ease of STP. If you are still interested in this solution contact them via email or see ratings for their ease of payroll here.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Tracks holiday, sick and long-service leave
Platforms
Top Solutions for Medium to Large Businesses
1. Xero
Overall 4.0/5 Stars
Xero has a pretty seamless STP set-up. They provide you with about 4 key steps in their webinar, it’s well spoken and gives you all the information you need. You can connect your business with the ATO by calling them or via AUSkey. The good thing about Xero is that it has great integration with other apps and provides many features itself. This makes it ideal for larger businesses, who want to access all their accounting services easily.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Tracks holiday, sick and long-service leave
Rostering
Extended accounting features
Platforms
2. MYOB
Overall 3.9/5 Stars
MYOB offers a very informative and quick webinar that shows you how to set up STP easily. It can be connected to the ATO by calling them or by using AUSkey. They outline the steps clearly so that you can set up with no dramas. If you’re struggling, they have a phone number you can call although there is usually a long wait time which is frustrating.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Timesheets
Invoicing, bills and expenses
Comprehensive support channels
Platforms
3. Microkeeper
An Australian developed STP solution that is mainly suited to medium and large businesses. The STP set-up seems pretty simple from the guiding steps, although they don’t have a webinar so it’s hard to say. You can find these steps on their website. It’s quick to connect with the ATO via your software ID. This ID notifies the ATO of who you are, so they can do STP accurately.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Tracks holiday, sick and long-service leave
Rostering, timesheets and HR management
Overall 3.9/5 Stars
Platforms
4. QuickBooks Online
Overall 3.7/5 Stars
An online accounting solution that takes care of payroll as well as invoicing. QuickBooks has set up their STP process so you connect to the ATO via your software ID. There is a great webinar that outlines all the steps. It's only a few minutes which is great.
STP Compliant
Create and email payslips
Tracks super and tax payable
Tracks holiday, sick and long-service leave
Invoicing
Platforms
How STP solutions keep you out of trouble.
Single Touch Payroll (STP) is a new system for reporting tax and super. STP was introduced by the ATO to save small businesses time and streamline payroll reporting. You no longer need to send end of financial year payroll reports to your employees. Instead, your employees access their reports online via their MyGov account.
Ensure your business is STP compliant in 2020. Businesses with 19 employees or less have got until July 2020 before the ATO starts fining you. Businesses with over 20 employees must already be compliant. All the above solutions are STP compliant and will keep the ATO happy.
There are a few key ways that payroll solutions enable you to set up your connection with the ATO; 1. connect via your service provider ID 2. the solution does STP through a sending service provider (SSP), there is no need for you to connect as they do it for you. 3. Through AUSkey.
Reference: The Australian Taxation Office, 2019, STP Checklists, viewed 10 Feb 2020, <https://www.ato.gov.au/business/single-touch-payroll/start-reporting/stp-checklists/a>