Best Small Business Payroll Services With Tax Filing in 2026
Compare the leading small business payroll tools with automated filing, and see what's really included.
What to Look for in a Payroll Service With Tax Filing
Almost every payroll service says it "handles your taxes." The fine print is where the costs pile up: local taxes, year-end W-2s and 1099s, and whether it can handle multiple states.
Federal, state, and local filing
Some cities, counties, and school districts levy their own payroll taxes. Make sure your provider files those, too.
Year-end forms
W-2s and 1099s are due every January. Some providers charge a base fee plus a fee per form.
Multi-state filing
Hiring in another state? Find out if it's included, an add-on, or locked behind a pricier plan.
A tax filing guarantee
Look for a provider that stands behind its filings.
Transparent pricing
If you have to call for a quote, it's harder to know what you'll pay.
How the Top Payroll Services Compare on Tax Filing
Patriot Full Service Payroll includes local taxes and year-end forms at no extra charge, and it costs less than every other published plan here for most small teams.
| Payroll Provider | Starting Price With Tax Filing (Current as of November 2026) | Local Taxes | Year-End W-2s & 1099s | Each Additional State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Full Service Payroll | $37/mo + $5 per worker paid | Included | Included, no extra charge | $12/mo |
| Gusto | $49/mo + $7 per worker | Included | Included | Requires Plus plan ($99/mo + $12 per worker) |
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6 per worker | Included | Included | Included |
| QuickBooks Workforce | $50/mo + $7 per worker | Varies by plan and location | Included | $12/mo (Payroll and Premium plans) |
| SurePayroll Full Service | $29/mo + $7 per worker | Included | Extra: $50 base fee + $5 per form | $9.99/mo |
| ADP RUN | Call for quote | Included | Extra fee (by quote) | Fees vary by quote |
| Paychex Flex | Call for quote | Included | Extra fee | Additional fees |
*Comparisons are based on publicly available information as of November 2026 and may change. Features and pricing vary by plan and jurisdiction.
What Tax Filing Really Costs: A 10-Employee Example
A business with 10 employees in two states pays $1,188 a year with Patriot Full Service Payroll, about $120 less than the next-lowest option.
Assumes 10 employees paid every month, one additional state, published list prices, no promotions, and 10 W-2s for SurePayroll's per-form fee. ADP RUN and Paychex Flex aren't shown because they don't publish pricing.
#1 Patriot Full Service Payroll — Best Value for All-Inclusive Tax Filing
Patriot's Full Service Payroll collects, files, and deposits your federal, state, and local payroll taxes for you. Local taxes and year-end forms are included, so the price you see is the price you pay.
| Patriot Full Service Payroll | Tax filing |
|---|---|
| Federal taxes filed & deposited | Included |
| State taxes filed & deposited | Included |
| Local taxes filed & deposited | Included |
| Year-end W-2s & 1099s | No extra charge |
| Each additional state | $12/mo |
Patriot Full Service Payroll Pros/Cons
| Pros of Patriot Full Service Payroll | Cons of Patriot Full Service Payroll |
|---|---|
|
|
Full Service Payroll Pricing
$37/mo + $5 per worker for Full Service Payroll, includes filing in one state.
($12/mo per state for each additional state)
Other Leading Payroll Services With Tax Filing
#2 OnPay
Best for multi-state employers
OnPay has one main plan with tax filing built in, including multi-state filing at no extra charge.
Pros: Multi-state filing, local taxes, and year-end forms are all included, and pricing is transparent.
Cons: Higher base and per-worker price than Patriot, only one main plan, and no self-file option.
Pricing $49/mo + $6 per worker
#3 Gusto
Best for modern user experience and benefits
Every Gusto plan files federal, state, and local taxes and year-end forms. But its entry plan covers only one state.
Pros: Local taxes and year-end forms included, plus a modern interface and benefits administration.
Cons: Multi-state requires the Plus plan ($99/mo + $12 per worker), there's no self-file option, and support level depends on plan.
Pricing Simple $49/mo + $7 per worker
Plus $99/mo + $12 per worker
Premium $179/mo + $22 per worker
#4 QuickBooks Workforce
Best for QuickBooks Online users
QuickBooks Workforce files your federal and state payroll taxes and connects directly to QuickBooks Online.
Pros: Native QuickBooks Online integration, year-end payroll filings included, and next-day direct deposit.
Cons: Higher base price, $12/mo for each additional state, and local tax services that vary by plan and location.
Pricing Workforce Payroll $50/mo + $7 per worker
Premium $88/mo + $13 per worker
Elite $134/mo + $17 per worker
#5 SurePayroll
Best for household employers
SurePayroll's Full Service plan has a low base price, but year-end forms cost extra.
Pros: Low base price and low multi-state fee, and it's built for nannies and household staff.
Cons: Year-end filings cost $50 plus $5 per form, the per-worker fee is higher, and there's no built-in time tracking.
Pricing Full Service $29/mo + $7 per worker
Household $39/mo + $10 per worker
#6 ADP RUN
Best for scaling compliance needs
ADP RUN handles tax filing for businesses that expect to grow quickly and want HR add-ons.
Pros: Strong reporting that scales with your business, plus optional HR and compliance add-ons.
Cons: No published pricing, year-end filing costs extra, and multi-state fees depend on your quote.
Pricing Custom quote required
#7 Paychex Flex
Best for bundling payroll and HR at scale
Paychex Flex bundles tax filing with HR and benefits for growing teams.
Pros: Robust benefits administration, several plan tiers, and a compliance library.
Cons: No published pricing, year-end filing costs extra, and pricing is based on pay frequency instead of unlimited payrolls.
Pricing Custom quote required
Rather File Your Own Taxes? Patriot Software Gives You the Choice
Most providers don't offer a self-file option. Patriot Software does.
Basic Payroll
$17/mo + $4 per worker paid
- You file and deposit your taxes
- You file local taxes
- You file year-end forms
- Pay employees in any state free
FAQs
For most small businesses, Patriot Full Service Payroll offers the best value. It starts at $37/mo + $5 per worker paid and includes federal, state, and local tax filing plus year-end W-2s and 1099s at no extra charge.
Many full-service providers do, but coverage can vary by plan and location. Patriot Full Service Payroll files and deposits federal, state, and most local payroll taxes.
Some do. SurePayroll charges a $50 base fee plus $5 per form, and ADP RUN and Paychex Flex charge extra for year-end filing. Patriot Software, Gusto, and OnPay include year-end forms.
With Patriot Software, paying employees in any state is free. Full Service tax filing and depositing costs $12/mo for each additional state. Gusto requires an upgrade to its Plus plan for multi-state, QuickBooks Workforce charges $12/mo per additional state, and SurePayroll charges $9.99/mo per additional state.
Payroll software calculates pay and taxes, but you file and deposit the taxes yourself. A payroll service with tax filing does that for you. Patriot Software offers both: Basic Payroll for self-filers and Full Service Payroll for automated filing.
Yes. You'll need your year-to-date payroll totals so your year-end forms are accurate. Patriot Software offers free setup assistance to get you started.
Let Patriot Handle Your Payroll Taxes
Local taxes and year-end forms included. Multi-state filing for just $12/mo per state.
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