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Switching from Gusto: one filer per quarter, and a full month billed
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Gusto has no contract and cancels immediately, but bills the full month if you cancel after the fifth or ran payroll that month. Choose 'switching to a new payroll provider' when you cancel: Gusto refunds the outstanding tax balance and your new provider handles all filing. Only one provider can file a quarter. OnPay migrates your prior wages free; QuickBooks Workforce imports Gusto's reports.
The steps
- Step 1 · not stated on its pages · No fee stated
Pick your switch date by quarter
Only one provider can file a quarterly return. Agree with the new provider which quarter it files from.
source - Step 2 · not stated on its pages · No fee stated
Download your year-to-date reports
The new provider needs Gusto's year-to-date payroll reports. Most reports download as PDF, CSV or Excel; the employee summary and payroll journal are the ones QuickBooks asks for.
source - Step 3 · Most ready within a few hours; expert review typically within one business day · Included on all Workforce plans
Import into QuickBooks Workforce
Upload Gusto's employee summary (PDF or CSV) and payroll journal (PDF only). An expert review follows.
source - Step 4 · not stated on its pages · Free
Or let OnPay migrate your history
OnPay's team migrates your prior wages and employee data for you.
source - Step 5 · not stated on its pages · No fee stated
Run your last Gusto payroll
You can't cancel your account while a payroll is in progress.
source - Step 6 · Takes effect immediately · Full month billed if after the fifth or you ran payroll that month; no tax-filing fees
Cancel Gusto as 'switching to a new payroll provider'
Gusto automatically refunds your outstanding tax balance, and your new provider handles all filing.
source
Carries over
- No contract and no tax-filing fees when you cancel to switch providers
- Gusto refunds the outstanding tax balance when you cancel to switch
- Admins keep access to forms, reports and past payrolls after cancelling
- QuickBooks Workforce imports Gusto's reports; OnPay migrates prior wages free
What you lose
- Cancelling after the fifth or after a payroll bills the full month
- Some reports can't download as CSV; sensitive fields are left out
- No pause option: seasonal businesses have to stay or cancel
Where to switch to
| Destination | Price from | Visit |
|---|---|---|
| OnPay No affiliate relationship | $6 per month | Visit OnPayOn onpay.com |
| QuickBooks Payroll No affiliate relationship | $7 per month | Visit QuickBooks PayrollOn quickbooks.intuit.com |
Gusto is easy to leave, but mid-year switches need care with taxes. Gusto's rule is that only one provider can file a quarterly return. Plan which quarter your new provider takes over, and give it Gusto's year-to-date numbers. Everything here comes from the companies' own pages, read Sep 27-30, 2026.
What Gusto's terms say
- Contract: "No contracts. Free account setup. Switch or cancel anytime," says its pricing page. No early termination fee is mentioned.
- Billing: Gusto's cancellation article says "If you cancel after the fifth of the month — or if you ran payroll that month — we'll charge you for the full month." If you cancel on or before the fifth without a payroll that month, you can ask support about a refund.
- Timing: "Your cancellation takes effect immediately." You can't cancel while a payroll is in progress, and there's no pause option.
- After you cancel: admins "can still view company forms, reports, employee information, and past payrolls," and employees keep their paystubs and forms. Gusto gives no end date.
Taxes, W-2s and the quarter you switch in
When you cancel, give switching to a new payroll provider as the reason. Gusto then automatically refunds your outstanding tax balance and says "Your new provider handles all filing. No fees apply."
If you choose another reason, Gusto offers to pay your outstanding taxes and file all quarterly and year-end returns for you, for $100 federal, $100 per state and $5 per form.
Gusto's switching article adds two things to do: share your year-to-date payroll reports with the new provider, and "Confirm with your new provider which quarter they will take over filing. Only one provider can file a quarterly return for any given quarter."
What to download
Gusto's reports mostly download as PDF, CSV or Excel. Take at least the payroll journal and the employee summary. The bank transactions report can't be downloaded as a CSV. The contractor information report leaves out bank details and Social Security numbers.
Where to move
These two companies from our payroll ranking publish a way in. Each is listed in rank order.
OnPay says its "team of payroll experts will migrate all of your prior wages and employee data for free" (OnPay), any time of year. Payroll Essentials is $49 a month plus $6 per worker on its pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026. When we read it again on Sep 30, the page title said pricing "Starts at $55 Per Month", which matches the $49 base plus $6 for one worker. OnPay names no Gusto importer and gives no time for the move.
QuickBooks Payroll (QuickBooks Workforce) imports from Gusto. You upload the employee summary and payroll journal. "Most migrations are ready for your review within a few hours of upload." Expert review is typically done within one business day. The imported pay history goes on your employees' W-2s. The employee summary can be a PDF or CSV, but the payroll history must be a PDF. Workforce Payroll is $50 a month plus $7 per employee on its pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026.
Who should switch
Gusto's pages make the quarter the unit: only one provider files each quarterly return, so agree the handover quarter first. QuickBooks says you don't have to wait until year-end, since your pay history comes with you. If you run seasonal payroll, note that Gusto has no pause. See how we score payroll services.