Bookkeeping categories
What category is Gusto in bookkeeping?
Gusto is usually categorized as People & Payroll. Even Margin applies that category automatically when the charge arrives.
What Gusto charges are
Gusto runs payroll, so its debits carry wages, the payroll taxes withheld and owed, and Gusto's own fee.
How Even Margin categorizes Gusto
People & Payroll. Applied automatically, at high confidence.
- Even Margin recognizes Gusto on your bank transaction, using the merchant list its team curates.
- It categorizes the charge as People & Payroll with high confidence, so it is applied without asking you.
- Change it whenever you like, and Even Margin keeps your choice.
When a different category fits
A rule on the merchant and the amount can send a recurring Gusto debit, such as your contractor run, straight to its category every time.
- Contractors paid through Gusto are Contract Labor (1099) rather than wages, so change those payments to it.
- Benefits run through Gusto, such as health insurance, are Employee Benefits.
- Gusto's monthly fee on its own is Payroll Processing Fees.
Why does Gusto take more than one debit for a payroll?
Gusto can debit net pay and payroll taxes separately, and its own fee on another day. When your bank shows what each debit is for (NET, TAX or FEE), Even Margin puts it straight into Payroll & Wages, Payroll Taxes or Payroll Processing Fees. Otherwise each lands in People & Payroll, and you can give it its exact category.
Can I see wages and payroll taxes separately?
Yes. Split the debit into Payroll & Wages, Payroll Taxes and Payroll Processing Fees, using the amounts on your Gusto payroll summary.
About this page
Reviewed 2026-10-08 by the Even Margin team.
These are categories for your books; for how a cost is treated on your tax return, ask your accountant. Merchant names are trademarks of their owners, and Even Margin is not affiliated with them.