What if I've already paid workers this year with another provider?
Your payroll history needs to be migrated so your tax filings stay accurate and continuous. We have dedicated migration guides for providers including Paychex, Rippling, ADP Run, Square Payroll, QuickBooks Online, and Gusto — all follow the same core pattern of importing current-year history before your first live run.
What do I need for a data migration?
Documents to gather
• Current quarter-to-date payroll summary, broken out by pay period
• Prior quarter(s) summary, broken out by employee
• Copies of quarterly Form 941s and state/local returns (if available)
• Login credentials for your prior provider (if you can share them)
System setup to confirm
• Every worker paid this year (active or terminated) is entered with correct work-location addresses
• Pay types, benefits, and deductions are set up at the company level
• Your SUI rate is entered
• If you're in Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana, South Carolina, Washington, or West Virginia each worker has a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code on file
What is an "unpaid tax liability" and why did it appear?
It's normal to see an unpaid tax liability when switching providers mid-year. This typically reflects taxes your old provider withheld from paychecks but hadn't yet deposited with the tax agency by the time you switched. The amount is reconciled and collected roughly a week after your first live payroll, and your prior provider should refund any amount they withheld but never remitted.
Should I run a parallel test before going live?
It's optional but recommended. Once company and worker onboarding are complete, follow these steps:
1. Enter a payroll as a draft — without submitting — so no funds move.
2. Generate the payroll journal and cash requirements reports.
3. Compare gross pay, taxes, deductions, and net pay line-by-line against your old system.
4. Fix any mismatches (usually caused by misaligned deduction/tax codes, incorrect jurisdiction setup, or missing benefit/garnishment elections).
5. Re-run until results align, then sign off to go live.
What is dual maintenance?
If there's a gap between finishing worker onboarding and running your first live payroll, keep both your old and new systems updated during that window. Mirror all changes across three areas:
• Worker profile changes — name/address, tax withholding, direct deposit, hires/terminations/leaves
• Pay changes — rates, bonuses, one-time payments, job/location changes
• Benefit and deduction changes
This keeps both systems aligned and avoids payroll errors, tax filing mistakes, and delayed direct deposits.
When should I cancel my old provider?
Only after your first payroll has run successfully on INNERGY. Before you cancel:
• Notify your previous provider right away so they stop filing taxes on your behalf.
• Download all records you'll need — payroll reports, quarterly tax packages, pay stubs, W-2s/1099s, and any Power of Attorney or state registration forms.
• Confirm who is issuing this year's W-2s/1099s.
⚠️ Never run payroll in both systems for the same pay period or check date.