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Payroll Setup (Gusto Integration)

Kova integrates with Gusto for payroll processing. This guide walks you through connecting and running your first payroll.

Prerequisites

  • Active Kova account (any tier)
  • Payroll add-on enabled ($4/employee/month)
  • US-based employees (Gusto currently supports US only)

    • Setup Steps

  • Enable payroll — Go to **Payroll → Setup** and click "Connect Payroll"
  • Company onboarding — Enter your EIN, business address, and bank account for direct deposits
  • Add a signatory — Designate who can authorize payroll runs
  • Set pay schedule — Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly
  • Configure tax details — Federal and state tax setup
  • Sync employees — Kova automatically syncs employee data to Gusto

    • Running Payroll

    The payroll lifecycle follows three steps:

  • Create — Start a new payroll run for the current period
  • Preview — Review calculated amounts, deductions, and taxes
  • Submit — Authorize the run. Funds are debited and direct deposits are scheduled.

    • Benefits Enrollment

    Manage health insurance, 401(k), and other benefits:

  • Create benefit plans in **Payroll → Benefits**
  • Employees self-enroll during open enrollment or onboarding
  • Deductions are automatically applied to payroll runs

    • Important Notes

  • Sensitive payroll data (SSN, bank accounts) is stored only in Gusto, never in Kova's database
  • Payroll runs sync automatically; a daily reconciliation job catches any missed updates
  • Pay stubs are cached in Kova for quick employee access