This article is for admins who need to send a wire to Gusto, find their wire instructions, or set up reverse wire. A wire is a direct transfer from your company’s US bank account to Gusto.
A wire settles faster than a standard bank debit and confirms the funds have arrived, so we ask for one when a payroll needs to be funded with certainty.
There is no single dollar amount that triggers this. It depends on details specific to your company, including your payroll and payment history with us, so the point where we ask can differ from one company to another and can change over time.
If we need you to pay a payroll by wire, we will tell you at the start of the payroll run.
You cannot choose to pay a payroll by wire on your own. When a wire is an option for a payroll, you’ll see it in the payroll flow, along with the wire instructions. If you missed your payroll deadline, learn about faster options for late payrolls in Direct deposit payment speeds.
If you do not send a wire we asked for, we’ll move that payroll to 4-day processing. Your team may get paid later than the payday you picked.
To pay your team sooner, you can pay them by check for this payroll. If your bank limits how much you can wire in one day, ask your bank to raise the limit before payday.
Set up reverse wire. With reverse wire, we request the wire from your bank for you, so you do not have to send one each time. Learn how in Set up and manage reverse wire.
If a payroll debit failed and you owe us an outstanding balance, you can pay it by wire. This balance has its own wire instructions, separate from a payroll wire. Follow the steps in Pay an outstanding balance.
You can wire us two ways:
One-time wire transfer, or
Reverse wire (automatic, ongoing transfers)
Important: We add $5 per wire to your monthly bill. Your bank may also charge a separate fee that you need to pay.
After you submit payroll, we’ll give you wire instructions. If you do not follow them exactly, we may not get the wire, and your team might not be paid on time.
Wires need to:
Include the unique tracking code from the wire instructions.
Match the amount shown in the wire instructions.
Come from a US bank account.
Be sent by someone authorized to use the company’s bank account.
When a payroll needs a one-time wire, we’ll give you wire instructions after you submit payroll.
Submit your payroll. We’ll show you the wire instructions.
Take a screenshot or download the instructions.
Contact your bank and use every detail in the instructions, including the unique tracking code and the exact dollar amount of the payroll or payments.
On the next Gusto page, submit your wire transfer details—this helps Gusto match your wire to your account and pay your team faster.
Go to your Home page. You can open your wire instructions there while your wire is in progress.
Your wire instructions show the date and time we need to receive your wire. If your wire arrives after that, your team may get paid late.
If we receive your wire on time, your team’s pay arrives by the end of the business day on payday (5pm local time).
Reverse wire lets us handle wire transfers directly with your bank so you do not have to send them manually. You can set up a reverse wire for one or more bank accounts in Gusto.
Important: Your bank may charge a fee for reverse wires that you would need to pay. Fees are typically $15–$30. Check with your bank for pricing.
If you’re running next-day or 2-day payroll, we may ask you to set up a reverse wire so we can pay your team and taxes on time.
Once you’ve set up reverse wire, run payroll like normal—we'll let you know before you submit payroll if we’re going to use a reverse wire. It usually takes one business day for the funds to transfer from your account.
We only use reverse wire when a payroll needs a wire. For payrolls that do not need one, we use your regular bank debit, so you do not need to change anything.
Set up reverse wire before you need it. Setup can take a few business days, depending on your bank. Contact your bank to confirm the timeline. If you already submitted a payroll that needs a wire, send a one-time wire for that payroll.
Note: To set up reverse wire, you will need to contact your bank.
To set up a reverse wire:
In the left menu, at the bottom, click your company name.
Under Billing, click Plan & billing.
Scroll to Bank accounts.
Next to the bank account, under Actions, click the three dots.
Click Set up reverse wire.
Click Download form.
Fill out the authorization form. This form tells your bank that we’re authorized to use a reverse wire for future transactions. There are three sections—you just need to fill out the first one with your bank account information.
Share the form with your bank. They need to fill out the last section of the form to finish the authorization. If your bank does not fill this out, they’ll reject our wire requests.
Once your bank has filled out the form, click Continue. If your session timed out, sign back in to Gusto and refollow steps 1-7, but this time skip steps 8-10.
Add your bank details. You may be asked to:
Confirm the full account number.
Enter the ABA routing number—check the bottom section of the authorization form that your bank filled out. If it is not there, you can also check your bank details online.
Enter the bank street address.
Click Continue.
Open the Reverse Wire Terms document and read it carefully. It covers reverse wire details and authorizes us to use it to pay your team.
Type your full name to enter your signature.
Check the box to agree to sign the form electronically.
Click Submit.
Keep the authorization form for as long as you use reverse wire.
To turn off reverse wire:
In the left menu, at the bottom, click your company name.
Under Billing, click Plan & billing.
Scroll to Bank accounts.
Next to your bank account, under Actions, click the three dots.
Click Turn off reverse wire. A pop-up reminds you that we will not start wires for you once it’s turned off. To turn reverse wire back on later, follow the steps in Set up reverse wire.
Click Turn off.