With OnPay’s intuitive software backed by expert support, getting payroll for nonprofits & charities right is a breeze.
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Yes, even with tax-exempt status, when nonprofits have employees they’re subject to the same payroll taxes as for-profit organizations. You must withhold federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes from employee paychecks, as well as pay the employer portion of FICA taxes. Most states have payroll tax requirements for nonprofits, as well.
The good news? OnPay’s non-profit payroll services automate the calculations, payments, and filings of these taxes to simplify compliance.
Yes, OnPay makes it easy to run payroll the way that makes sense for your organization. You can create custom pay items and/or or run unlimited pay runs at no additional charge.
If you haven’t already, the first steps are registering for required IDs, including an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS and tax IDs in states where you pay workers. You’ll need to collect employee forms like the W-4, I-9, and state-specific tax forms — plus any other onboarding documents. Generally, nonprofit organizations must withhold federal income taxes from their employees’ wages and pay a matching amount. To calculate the amount to withhold from an employee’s paycheck, use their Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, and reference IRS Publication 15 and Publication 15-A. A payroll software like OnPay makes it easy by handling letting you securely collect forms like the W-4 electronically for e-signature — and then we automate all of the calculations and tax payments when you process payroll.