Payroll cut-off planner
Enter the first pay day, how often you pay, and how many days before pay day the period ends and hours must be approved. The next pay runs are laid out with every deadline.
| Pay day | Period ends | Corrections close | Approve by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 14 Jan 2027 | Sun, 10 Jan 2027 | Mon, 11 Jan 2027 | Tue, 12 Jan 2027 |
| Thu, 28 Jan 2027 | Sun, 24 Jan 2027 | Mon, 25 Jan 2027 | Tue, 26 Jan 2027 |
| Thu, 11 Feb 2027 | Sun, 7 Feb 2027 | Mon, 8 Feb 2027 | Tue, 9 Feb 2027 |
| Thu, 25 Feb 2027 | Sun, 21 Feb 2027 | Mon, 22 Feb 2027 | Tue, 23 Feb 2027 |
| Thu, 11 Mar 2027 | Sun, 7 Mar 2027 | Mon, 8 Mar 2027 | Tue, 9 Mar 2027 |
| Thu, 25 Mar 2027 | Sun, 21 Mar 2027 | Mon, 22 Mar 2027 | Tue, 23 Mar 2027 |
A worked example
Fortnightly pay on Thursdays from 14 January 2027. The period ends four days before pay day, and hours are approved two days before it.
| Pay day | Period ends | Corrections close | Approve by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 14 Jan | Sun 10 Jan | Mon 11 Jan | Tue 12 Jan |
| Thu 28 Jan | Sun 24 Jan | Mon 25 Jan | Tue 26 Jan |
How it is worked out
period end = pay day − its days and approve by = pay day − its days. Corrections close the day before approval, so there is a day to deal with them.
Weekly and fortnightly pay days step by 7 and 14 days. A monthly pay day keeps its date, moved back in a shorter month.
What this tool cannot tell you
- Weekends and public holidays, which it counts as ordinary days
- How long your bank or payroll provider needs
- Superannuation or tax lodgement dates
Questions
How many days before pay day should hours be approved?
Long enough for payroll to be processed and for the payment to reach bank accounts on pay day. Ask whoever runs your pay run how many days they need, and use that.
Does it skip weekends and public holidays?
No. It counts calendar days. When a deadline lands on a weekend or a public holiday, bring it forward yourself.
Why is a row marked as not possible?
Because the approval deadline falls before the pay period has ended, so there would be hours to approve that have not been worked yet.