The best way to run a payroll is using a payroll software can ease your payroll pains.Make sure the software meets your needsBefore you start using a payroll software, you have to make sure the software actually meets your needs. Determine what you need the software to do. If the software does not meet your needs, it will not be effective for your business. Payroll software could include these features:Payroll tax filing and depositsForm printingEmployee accessMobile compatibilityTime and attendance trackingOnce you figure out your payroll needs, you can rule out software packages that will not work for you. Also, consider your wantsu2014things you would like, but do not necessarily need. Knowing your wants might help you choose between two similar software packages.Gather information about your businessWhen you start using a payroll software, you will need to enter your business information. You will need your businessu2019s legal name, DBA (u201cdoing business asu201d name), and address.Make sure you register your businessu2019s name with your county clerku2019s office or state government. Each state has different requirements for registering your business name.Round up employee informationWhen you set up payroll software, you will have to enter information about all your employees. Youu2019ll need the following information from each employee:Legal nameAddressSocial Security numberTax filing statusWage deductionsYou can find all the employee information you need on IRS Form W-4. When you hire a new employee, they should fill out a Form W-4. When an employee makes a life change (e.g., getting married or having a baby), he or she should fill out a new Form W-4.As an employer, you should keep all Form W-4s on hand for payroll purposes. You must keep each Form W-4 for at least four years.Figure out tax rates and deadlinesThere are several payroll taxes that you have to remit. You have to withhold income taxes from employee wages. You have to contribute toward unemployment taxes. You also have to withhold Social Security and Medicare from employee wages, as well as pay an employer contribution.Unfortunately, each state has a different rate and set of payroll tax regulations. Before you move to payroll software, make sure you verify your tax rates. When you set up the payroll software, you will have to enter your tax rates for federal and state unemployment taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax.You also need to know when your payroll taxes are due. Not all employers have the same due dates for payroll taxes. You will need to enter your tax due dates into the software. This will help the software properly calculate how much of each tax you have due.