Payroll as an outsourced service refers to the practice of delegating the responsibility of processing employee compensation and related tasks to an external third-party provider. This typically involves outsourcing various payroll functions such as calculating employee wages, salaries, bonuses, deductions, taxes, and other payroll-related obligations. Outsourcing payroll can involve hiring a specialized payroll company or using a payroll software or platform provided by an external vendor. 

Outsourced payroll services may encompass a wide range of activities, including but not limited to:

1. Payroll processing:

Calculating and processing employee salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of compensation based on factors such as hours worked, attendance, and relevant payroll laws and regulations.

2. Tax compliance:

Managing and filing payroll taxes, including federal, state, and local taxes, as well as handling other statutory deductions such as Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes.

3. Recordkeeping:

Maintaining accurate records of payroll transactions, generating payroll reports, and providing documentation for audits or legal compliance purposes.

4. Employee self-service:

Offering online portals or tools for employees to view their pay stubs, access tax forms, update personal information, and request time off.

5. Compliance management:

Staying up-to-date with changing payroll laws and regulations, ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws, tax codes, and other relevant employment regulations.

6. Payment management:

Facilitating payment of employees through direct deposit, issuing paper checks, or other forms of electronic payment.

Outsourcing payroll services can provide businesses with benefits such as reduced administrative burden, increased accuracy, compliance with payroll regulations, and access to specialized expertise. However, it's important for businesses to carefully select a reliable and reputable payroll service provider and ensure that sensitive employee information is handled securely and in compliance with applicable data protection laws.