FAQs about Pensoft Payroll Plus
Note: Instructions are available for printing in PDF form
We encourage you to call Telfarm rather than PenSoft for most of your questions, as we understand the features you were accustomed to in MicroTel Payroll. If we cannot answer your question, we will suggest you call Pensoft directly. The type of support depends on the question.
Q. I need to move PenSoft Payroll Plus to a different computer. Should I use my original installation disk?
A. You may use the original installation CD (Method #1) or download a full installation from PenSoft’s website at www.pensoft.com (Method #2). You must also restore your backups and install the Telfarm Track or PAL CD. See the detailed instructions to Restore PenSoft to a New Computer.
Q. I don’t know my PenSoft Password to download updates. What should I do?
A. On the PenSoft home screen, click on Current Users. Find the “Forgot Password” box and click on it. PenSoft will e-mail your password to your e-mail address within minutes. If you prefer to receive your updates by quarterly CD, you may change to that method and pay an additional fee. Contact Pensoft.
Q. How do I exempt an employee from unemployment taxes?
- Click the Employee Button
- Select the employee, click Modify
- Select the “Income” tab (not the Tax tab)
- Highlight income type and click Modify
- Click the Advanced button (if it is not already displayed)
- Uncheck the tax which you want to be exempt. Only the taxes that the income will be subject to should have check marks.
- Repeat steps 4-7 for each income this employee receives
- Complete detailed instructions are in PAL > HELP
Q. Why didn’t some of my employee deductions link to Telfarm for Windows Accountant?
A. There are many possibilities. The most serious is that you did not properly install the TelFarm PAL CD. That must be determined first. We suggest the following in PenSoft:
- Click the Export button
- Select Custom Export
- Click Setup
- Click the Setup Accounts button to the right of “Include Payroll Data in the export.”
The screen displays all PenSoft incomes (debits) and deductions (credits) on the left column and corresponding Accounts on the right. If there is nothing in the right column, then the PAL CD was NOT installed correctly and you should call Telfarm for instructions. If there are any missing Accounts, then you may have added your own incomes and/or deductions. A list of Account Names is available in the PAL Help topics – Linking PenSoft to Telfarm.
Q. My checks don’t line up right. How do I fix this?
A. Go to Telfarm PAL > Help > Check Styles. Follow the instructions for the type of check you are using.
Q. How do I give a pay advance to an employee through PenSoft?
A. Don’t write advanced paychecks through Payroll. Write a LOAN from the Accountant or Checkwriter program.
Q. How do I withhold payroll advances from the employee’s paycheck?
- Click on the Employee button
- Select the employee from whom advances will be withheld
- Click Modify
- Click the Deductions tab
- Click Add
- Select “Advanced Wages” from the Deduction List – click OK
- Select the type of calculation and the amount, click OK when done.
Q. How do I withhold additional State or Federal Taxes from an employees pay?
- Click on the Employee button
- Select the employee for whom additional taxes will be withheld
- Click Modify
- Click on the Taxes tab
- Click Add
- Highlight the “Federal Income Tax Additional” or “MI Income Tax Additional” (one at a time)
- Click OK
- Click Modify
- Select the type of calculation and the amount to withhold, then click OK.
Q. I just want a report for each pay date that shows the employee’s name, check number and net check amount.
- Select Reports button
- On the Pay Date Reports tab, click on Check Register
- Do not enter anything on the first screen, just click OK
- All paychecks will be displayed
- Click OK and you will be able to select a time period
- Click OK
- View or print the report
Additional TIPS
- Most reports and many operations in Pensoft Payroll depend on you selecting:
- The right starting and ending dates, or
- The right time period
- Be careful to do so, or you will NOT get the results you expect
- Advanced button – Whenever this button is available on the screen, you have more options and information. Check it out.
- You can design your own reports by selecting the blue Report Setup button whenever available from the Reports button. Click and drag the subjects from the bottom of the screen and drop into the desired column. If more than 7 column headings are used, you should change the Layout to Landscape.
- NEVER delete a tax or deduction from the Company list.
- Use the Time Calculator on the Employee’s Payroll entry screen by double clicking in the HRS field where you would enter the actual hours or by pressing the T key.
- We urge you to be faithful in putting in the date of hire (or date of Rehire). This will be important for the New Hires report in PAL.
- If you move the software to another computer, or change printers, you will most likely have to re-define your reports and checks printer (also true for TFWA).
