Welcome to your complete onboarding guide for Micro-Payroll 2026. If you're a small business owner or a solo entrepreneur, setting up payroll can feel overwhelming. But with Micro-Payroll, you have a free payroll tax calculator at your fingertips, making the process easier. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to set up payroll, run your first payroll, and understand your responsibilities as an employer.
Setting Up Payroll with Micro-Payroll
Onboarding Micro-Payroll starts with gathering all the necessary information about your business and employees. First, you need to collect personal details for each employee, including their Social Security numbers, addresses, and tax withholding preferences. Next, you'll want to determine the pay schedules you plan to use, whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. With this information in hand, you can create employee profiles within the Micro-Payroll platform. This will allow you to track hours worked, wages, and other essential data.
Understanding Payroll Taxes
As you onboard Micro-Payroll, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with payroll taxes. In 2026, the Social Security tax rate is 6.2% on wages up to $176,100, according to the IRS. Additionally, the Medicare tax rate is 1.45% on all wages. If you're in Washington, you need to consider the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) tax, which totals 1.13%, with the employee share being 0.8072%, as per the Washington ESD's November 2025 announcement. Don't forget about the WA Cares Fund, which has a rate of 0.58%. Depending on your business type, Washington's Labor and Industries (L&I) insurance rates will vary by risk class code.
Running Your First Payroll
Once you've set up payroll, it's time for your first payroll run. This step is straightforward. Using Micro-Payroll, input the hours worked by each employee and any additional earnings or deductions. The calculator will automatically compute the necessary taxes based on the current rates. After verifying the amounts, you can process the payroll, ensuring that employees receive their paychecks on time. It's also important to issue pay stubs that detail earnings and deductions, as this promotes transparency and trust.
Ready to simplify your payroll process? Use the free payroll tax calculator at micro-payroll.com today.
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