By Brett Ransley • 23 Mar 2026
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If your business is still using an older MYOB desktop payroll product, now is the right time to start reviewing your options.
We have been getting more enquiries from businesses asking whether Go Casual could be a suitable replacement for MYOB desktop payroll, especially where payroll is not straightforward and staff or contractors may work different hours, different shifts, or even different rates from one job to the next.
A common enquiry sounds like this:
“Our company currently uses MYOB Ace Payroll, the desktop version, but that is retiring on 1 April, and I’m looking at other payroll options that can handle this type of contract work with the variable rates, hours, etc. Can you help?”
The first thing to check is which MYOB product you are actually on.
MYOB has stated that MYOB Payroll will be decommissioned on 1 April 2026, and after that date there will be no more features, patches, compliance updates, or support. Separately, MYOB community responses have stated that ACE Payroll has a later support timeline, continuing until April 2027.
Either way, if you are on an older desktop payroll system, this is a good time to move to a modern online payroll platform that fits the way your business actually works.
Why businesses are looking to move away from desktop payroll
Desktop payroll software worked well for many businesses for years, but it can become a problem when:
- support deadlines are approaching
- compliance updates are no longer guaranteed
- payroll needs have become more flexible
- staff and contractors are working variable jobs, shifts, and rates
- you want access from more than one device or location
- you need a simpler way to manage timesheets, payslips, and reporting
For many small and mid-sized New Zealand businesses, the biggest challenge is not just replacing payroll software. It is finding something that suits real-world pay scenarios.
That is especially true for industries using:
- casual staff
- part-time workers
- schedular or contractor-style payments
- staff working across multiple jobs or bookings
- variable hourly rates
- flat day rates
- a mix of workers and contractors in one system
Is Go Casual a good option?
For many businesses, yes.
Go Casual is designed for New Zealand payroll, with a strong focus on businesses that need flexibility rather than a rigid one-rate-per-person setup. It includes NZ payroll essentials like PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver, tax code support, payslips, pay runs, IRD reporting, and employee records, while also supporting more flexible working arrangements that many desktop systems struggle with.
If your business has workers whose pay changes depending on the job, day, booking, or contract arrangement, Go Casual is likely worth a serious look.
Where Go Casual fits particularly well
Go Casual can be a strong fit for businesses such as:
- labour hire and temp staffing
- talent and extras agencies
- production and event-based work
- hospitality and seasonal teams
- casual employment environments
- businesses with a mix of employees and contractors
- companies wanting simpler payroll admin without losing flexibility
Key Go Casual features for businesses moving off MYOB desktop payroll
Here are some of the features that matter most when comparing a move.
1. New Zealand payroll calculations built in
Go Casual supports NZ payroll processing including:
- PAYE calculations
- ACC levy calculations
- student loan deductions
- KiwiSaver contributions and ESCT
- multiple pay frequencies
- NZ tax code support
- IRD monthly reporting
- payslip generation
These are core payroll functions many businesses need to replace immediately when leaving older payroll software.
2. WT tax code support
If you pay workers on a WT tax code or have contractor-style arrangements that need proper tax code handling, this is one of the newer areas Go Casual supports. That makes it especially relevant for businesses paying workers who are not following a simple standard employee setup.
3. Alternative rates and day rates
One of the biggest reasons businesses enquire about Go Casual is because some workers are not paid the same way every shift.
Go Casual supports:
- custom rates on individual time entries
- alternative rate overrides
- flat day rates
- variable hours and variable pay across different jobs
This is particularly useful where the same worker might be paid differently depending on the booking, role, site, or contract.
4. Contractor and staff management in one place
Go Casual supports both:
- regular employees
- contractors
That means businesses can manage different worker types within the same system rather than trying to split payroll processes across spreadsheets, manual calculations, or separate tools.
5. Timesheet management and approvals
Go Casual includes timesheet features such as:
- manual time entry
- employee self-submitted timesheets
- approval workflows
- calendar view
- detailed day table view
- notes and descriptions on entries
- public holiday tracking
- break compensation handling
For businesses coming from desktop payroll, having timesheets tied directly into payroll can remove a lot of double handling.
6. Payslips and payroll reporting
Go Casual can generate:
- PDF payslips
- email payslip distribution
- contractor payment summaries
- payment sheet reports
- contractor payment reports
- IRD-style reporting exports
That helps businesses keep payroll clear and organised while reducing manual admin.
7. Employee records and payroll settings
Go Casual includes employee management features such as:
- employee profiles
- IRD number storage
- tax code settings
- bank account details
- KiwiSaver settings
- holiday pay handling
- active and inactive worker status
- document uploads
This is important when migrating off an older system because you want one place to manage worker data properly going forward.
8. Automation and modern online access
Go Casual also includes newer features that many desktop payroll products did not offer in the same way, including:
- payroll automations
- scheduled actions
- email notifications
- online access
- employee portal functionality
- role-based access
For some businesses, this is not just a replacement. It is a step up in how payroll is managed.
When Go Casual may be a particularly good fit
Go Casual is likely a strong option if your current payroll process involves things like:
- workers only being paid when they are booked
- rates changing from job to job
- a mix of staff and contractor-style workers
- casual hours that vary week to week
- a need to manage payroll online rather than from one desktop machine
- wanting a simpler system for timesheets, pay runs, and payslips
If that sounds like your business, the move could save a lot of admin time while also reducing workarounds.
Questions to ask before moving from MYOB desktop payroll
Before changing systems, it is worth checking:
- what MYOB product are you currently on
- when your current product actually reaches end of support
- what payroll data needs to be carried across
- whether you need support for variable rates
- whether you pay contractors, casual staff, or both
- whether your team needs timesheet approvals
- whether you want staff to access payslips online
These questions help decide whether you only need a basic payroll replacement or whether you need something more flexible.
Final thoughts
If you are using an older MYOB desktop payroll product, it makes sense to review your options now rather than leave it until the last minute.
And if your payroll is more complex than a simple fixed weekly wage, Go Casual is well worth considering.
It is built for New Zealand payroll and includes flexible features such as WT tax code support, alternative and day rate overrides, contractor and staff management, timesheets, payslips, IRD reporting, and more.
For businesses with variable hours, variable rates, casual staff, or contractor-style arrangements, that flexibility can make a big difference.
Need help deciding if Go Casual is right for your payroll?
If you are currently on MYOB desktop payroll and wondering whether Go Casual will suit your setup, get in touch and let us know how your workers are paid.
We can help you work out whether it is a good fit for your business, especially if you have variable rates, contractor-style payments, or a mix of casual staff and regular employees.