Login, 2FA & password reset

This guide covers: signing up for a new account, logging in, verifying your email, resetting a forgotten password, and turning on two-factor authentication. Each portal (accountant/SMB, client, employee) has its own sign-in page — pick the one that matches the invite you received.

Sign up

What it does: Creates a brand-new accountant, small-business, or enterprise account on Payrollix.

Where: Public site → Create your account (/register).

Steps:

1. Open /register.
2. On Step 1 — Choose plan, click one of the three cards: Accounting Firm, Small Business, or Enterprise. Each card shows what the plan is for and its starting price.
3. Click Continue.
4. On Step 2 — Your details, fill in First name, Last name, Firm name (or Company name for SMB/Enterprise), Email address, optional Phone, Password (8+ characters), and Confirm password.
5. If a captcha appears, complete it.
6. Click Start 14-Day Free Trial.
7. You'll be redirected to Check your email — open the verification link we just sent.

Who: Anyone. No invite required.

Notes: The account-type buttons set the portal you'll land in after login. You can't change account type later — pick carefully. By creating an account you accept the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Moov's platform agreement (linked at the bottom of the form).

Log in

What it does: Signs you into the portal that matches your account type.

Where: Use the URL that matches your role.

• Accountants and SMB owners: Sign in to your account (/login).
• Clients (your accountant's customers): Client Portal (/client-portal/login).
• Employees: Employee Portal (/employee-portal/login).

Steps:

1. Type your Email address and Password.
2. Tick Remember me for 30 days if you want a longer session on this device.
3. Click Sign in.
4. If two-factor is on, the Two-Factor Authentication screen appears next — type the 6-digit code from your authenticator app (or a backup code) into the centered box.
5. Tick Remember this device for 30 days to skip the 2FA prompt on this browser going forward.
6. Click Verify.

Who: Anyone with credentials. Accountant accounts marked as platform admins land on /admin/compliance instead of /dashboard.

Notes: If we haven't seen your email verified yet, login is blocked with Email verification required and a Resend verification email button. The employee login redirects to /employee-portal/onboarding automatically if you haven't completed onboarding.

Reset a forgotten password

What it does: Emails you a one-time link to set a new password.

Where: From the accountant sign-in page, click Forgot your password? (/forgot-password).

Steps:

1. Open /forgot-password.
2. Type the Email on your account.
3. Click Send reset link.
4. You'll see Check your email — the link expires in 24 hours.
5. Open the email and click the reset link. You'll land on /reset-password with the token already filled in.
6. Type a New password (8+ characters) and Confirm password.
7. Click Reset password. You're auto-redirected to /login after two seconds.

Who: Accountant and SMB users. Client and employee portals don't expose a public reset — contact your accountant or employer if you've locked yourself out.

Notes: For your privacy we show the same "Check your email" message whether or not the address has an account — no enumeration. If the reset link has expired, you'll see Reset failed — request a new one.

Verify your email

What it does: Marks your account as verified so you can log in.

Where: Click the Verify Email link in the welcome email we sent at signup (/verify-email?token=…).

Steps:

1. Open the email titled "Verify your Payrollix email".
2. Click Verify Email. You'll land on /verify-email with the token in the URL.
3. Wait for Verifying your email… to flip to Email Verified!.
4. Click Sign In.

Who: Newly registered users.

Notes: If the screen shows Verification Failed, the link is expired or has already been used — go to /login and click Resend verification email. Visiting /verify-email directly with no token shows the Check Your Email state.

Set up two-factor authentication

What it does: Adds a 6-digit authenticator code on top of your password at sign-in.

Where: Dashboard → Settings → Security (/settings), section Two-Factor Authentication.

Steps:

1. Open /settings and click the Security tab.
2. In the Two-Factor Authentication card click Enable 2FA.
3. Scan the QR code with Google Authenticator, 1Password, Authy, or any TOTP app. (Or type the Secret key into the app by hand.)
4. Type the 6-digit code your app shows into the Verification code box.
5. Click Verify & Enable.
6. The Backup codes screen appears — copy them with Copy all or save the Download text file. Each code works once and they're your way back in if you lose your phone.
7. Click Done.

Who: Any logged-in user.

Notes: When 2FA is on, every login asks for a code after the password. The login page accepts both authenticator codes and backup codes in the same box. To turn 2FA off, click Disable 2FA in the same card and enter a current code or a backup code to confirm.

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Related: Accept an invitation · Add your first client and run your first payroll · Team & permissions.