PaymentEvolution

PaymentEvolution is a payroll and benefits service for Canadian employers, with payroll-linked time tracking and employee self-service. It suits businesses that need recurring payroll and Canadian tax handling; the trade-off is employee-based pay-run charges and a setup fee, even on its free-monthly plan.

Overview

PaymentEvolution calculates payroll, pays employees by direct deposit, and supports tax filing and payment. It calculates EI, CPP, QPP, and income tax, and supports tax reconciliation and year-end forms. For employers that want these payroll tasks together, that is a broader fit than a tool focused only on filing forms. The service is aimed at a single business running payroll for its own employees; advisors managing payroll for clients are directed to Evolv.

PayChequer gives employees access to pay information and tax documents, and lets them update their own information. TimeTracker records employee time and connects it to payroll, which is useful when an employer wants tracked time within the payroll workflow. Accounting integrations include Kashoo, FreshBooks, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, QuickBooks Desktop and Online, Software4Nonprofits, and Xero.

The payroll service is cloud-based and requires no downloads. PaymentEvolution is Canadian-owned, based in Mississauga, Ontario, and says it has served Canadian businesses for more than 20 years. The Trust Center describes encryption in transit with TLS 1.3 and at rest with AES-256, required multi-factor authentication, SOC 2 Type II certification, ISO 27001 infrastructure, and Canadian data residency. Those controls and residency are relevant considerations for organizations handling payroll data.

Key features

• Payroll and tax administration: Payroll calculations, direct deposit, tax filing and payment, and reconciliation bring recurring payroll work into one service. Preparation of TD1, T4, T4A, ROE, and RL-1 documents also supports employee and year-end paperwork.
• Employee self-service: PayChequer lets employees retrieve pay and tax records and maintain their own information, reducing the need to route every update through payroll staff.
• Time tracking: TimeTracker integrates with payroll, making it a relevant option for businesses that want time records connected to pay processing.
• Accounting connections: The range of integrations includes several accounting products, but the best fit depends on whether the employer uses one of those systems.
• Payroll API: The web services API supports custom payroll calculations and integrations. API access is sold in prepaid bundles, with a minimum of 1,000 calculations per month for $500, so it is aimed at organizations with a concrete integration need rather than occasional use.

Pricing

PaymentEvolution has a free plan and a 15-day trial. All listed employee plans also carry a $55 one time setup fee and a per-employee charge for each pay run, so the monthly subscription alone does not reflect the full cost of regular payroll. The plans are priced in USD.

Growth is the least-committing option by monthly subscription, but its three-employee cap, email-only support, $4.00 / employee / pay run charge, and setup fee make it a poor match for anyone expecting a no-cost payroll service. Business Basic trades a monthly minimum for a lower run fee and room for up to 25 employees. Business Plus raises the monthly minimum but extends the cap to 300 and lowers the run fee again; the better value depends on payroll frequency and headcount.

Platforms

PaymentEvolution supports web, Android, and iOS, alongside an API for custom payroll calculations and integrations. Cloud access without downloads suits businesses that want to use the service through a browser, while mobile platforms provide additional access options.

Who it's for

PaymentEvolution is best suited to Canadian employers that run payroll for their own staff and want tax calculations, filings, employee records, and time tracking connected in one service. Growth is most appropriate for a business with no more than three employees; Business Basic is a more realistic fit for employers needing up to 25 employees and phone support; Business Plus covers teams up to 300. Larger organizations can consider Enterprise custom pricing.

It is less suited to advisors administering payroll for multiple clients, who are directed to Evolv, or to employers seeking occasional tax-form filing without a broader payroll workflow. The per-run charges also matter most to businesses that process payroll frequently.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Canadian payroll calculations, tax filing and payment, reconciliation, and year-end documents cover more than pay calculation alone.
• Pro: PayChequer and payroll-connected TimeTracker extend the service to employee access and time records.
• Pro: Accounting integrations span several established products, and the API supports custom calculations and integrations.
• Pro: Canadian data residency, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and named security certifications address important payroll-data concerns.
• Con: Growth is capped at three employees and charges $4.00 / employee / pay run, in addition to its one-time setup fee.
• Con: Business Basic and Business Plus impose monthly minimums as well as per-run charges, so employers must account for both subscription and usage costs.
• Con: Teams over 300 employees need custom pricing rather than a published fixed plan.

Alternatives

For tax-filing tools and adjacent payroll options, browse Payroll Tax Software. Choose TaxZerone instead if a free W-9 request option or per-form federal information-return filing better matches a filing-specific need. HMRC Basic PAYE Tools is a free alternative for businesses with fewer than 10 employees seeking payroll software on Linux, macOS, or Windows.

Yearli is worth considering for W-2 and 1099 forms and quarterly filing, with a free-to-start Core plan that carries an annual subscription plus filing fees. TaxBandits may suit employers who prioritize unlimited pay runs and a $0 employee fee on its Basic plan. For employer withholding returns or IRS forms charged per submission, consider eFile Express. BSI ComplianceFactory and Rockerbox FiveFour are other paid web-based alternatives.

ADP Workforce Now is a paid web and mobile payroll and HR suite; its Select plan combines payroll and HR, while Plus adds benefits administration.

Verdict

Choose PaymentEvolution if you are a Canadian employer seeking integrated payroll calculations, tax handling, employee self-service, and payroll-connected time tracking, and its employee caps match your workforce. The main reason to choose it is the breadth of Canadian payroll and tax work alongside employee and accounting workflows. Look elsewhere if a free service without recurring per-run charges is essential, you manage payroll for clients, or your organization needs a fixed published plan above 300 employees.