<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FEBRUARY 28, 2001 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PAYCHEX, INC., AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000723531 <NAME> PAYCHEX, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-2001 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> FEB-28-2001 <CASH> 106,796 <SECURITIES> 2,339,690 <RECEIVABLES> 89,898 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,564,742 <PP&E> 218,131 <DEPRECIATION> 131,840 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,671,131 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,948,606 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,733 <OTHER-SE> 713,658 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,671,131 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 641,237 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 147,398 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 244,706 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 267,866 <INCOME-TAX> 80,758 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 187,108 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 187,108 <EPS-BASIC> .50 <EPS-DILUTED> .50