Best Payroll Software in the UK today

Menu
Thumb

Gusto Payroll

REVIEW

Gusto is one of the most popular payroll platforms in the United States, known for its user-friendly interface, automated tax filings, and built-in HR tools. While it’s an excellent solution for US employers, UK companies should consider dedicated UK payroll providers that integrate directly with HMRC and comply with local legislation.

  • ✅ Checked By best-payroll-software.co.uk

What Is Gusto Payroll?

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform designed primarily for US small and medium-sized businesses. It offers:

  • Automated payroll processing;

  • Federal, state, and local tax filings (US only);

  • Employee benefits administration;

  • Time tracking and PTO management;

  • Contractor payments;

  • Onboarding and document management.

The platform combines payroll and HR tools into one ecosystem, reducing the need for multiple systems – but it is tailored specifically to US employment law.

TRY TO USE GUSTO PAYROLL

Key Features

1. Automated Payroll

Gusto allows unlimited payroll runs and automatically calculates wages, deductions, and taxes. Payroll can be set to run on autopilot.

⚠️ Important: Tax calculations apply to US federal and state regulations – not UK PAYE or National Insurance.

2. US Tax Filing & Compliance

The software automatically files and pays US payroll taxes on behalf of employers.

However, it does not support:

  • HMRC RTI submissions;

  • UK PAYE;

  • National Insurance calculations;

  • UK statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP).

This makes it unsuitable for UK-registered businesses.

3. Employee Self-Service

Employees can:

  • Access payslips;

  • Update personal details;

  • View tax documents (US forms);

  • Manage benefits.

The portal is modern and easy to use — but again, built around US tax forms such as W-2 and 1099.

4. Time Tracking & PTO

Gusto includes time tracking and leave management features that sync directly with payroll.

For UK businesses, however, holiday accrual rules and statutory leave requirements differ significantly and are not fully supported.

5. HR & Benefits Administration

Gusto stands out in the US market for integrating:

  • Health insurance;

  • 401(k) retirement plans;

  • Workers’ compensation;

  • HR advisory services.

These benefits are not relevant to UK pension auto-enrolment or NHS-related systems.

Feature Description
HMRC RTI Compliance Automates submission of Real Time Information to HMRC with full accuracy.
PAYE and NI Calculations Automatically calculates employee income tax and National Insurance contributions.
Workplace Pension Auto-Enrolment Complies with UK pension law, calculating employer and employee contributions.
QuickBooks Integration Direct integration with QuickBooks accounting software for seamless bookkeeping.
Employee Self-Service Staff can view payslips, holiday balances, and tax codes online.
Flexible Pay Schedules Supports weekly, monthly, or custom pay frequencies.
Reporting & Analytics Provides payroll reports, summaries, and HMRC-compliant documentation.
GUSTO PAYROLL REVIEW

Gusto Pricing (2026)

Gusto typically offers three main plans:

Plan Base Price Per Employee Includes
Simple From ~$40/month ~$6 per employee Full-service US payroll
Plus Higher tier Per employee fee Time tracking & PTO
Premium Custom pricing Custom Dedicated HR support

💡 Pricing is structured for US companies and does not include UK tax compliance functionality.

When Might Gusto Still Work?

Gusto could be suitable if:

  • Your business is registered in the US;

  • You pay US employees or contractors;

  • You do not need UK compliance.

For UK-registered limited companies, it is not recommended.

TRY TO USE GUSTO PAYROLL

Gusto vs UK Payroll Software

Feature Gusto UK Payroll Providers
HMRC RTI Filing ❌ ✅
PAYE Support ❌ ✅
UK Statutory Pay ❌ ✅
Pension Auto-Enrolment ❌ ✅
US Tax Filing ✅ ❌
HR Integration ✅ Limited (varies)

Gusto is an excellent payroll solution – for US businesses. It offers automation, strong HR integration, and an intuitive interface.

However, for UK businesses requiring HMRC compliance, PAYE processing, and pension auto-enrolment, Gusto is not suitable.

If you’re operating in the UK, it’s safer and more efficient to choose a payroll provider built specifically for British legislation.