When should I use an off-cycle payroll?

Off-cycle payrolls are used to issue payments outside of your regular pay schedule. These runs are limited to specific employees or contractors, you select and are ideal for handling corrections, missed pay, or one-time payouts.

Common reasons to create an off-cycle payroll

Use an off-cycle payroll when you need to:

• Pay missed earnings
  An employee was accidentally left out or underpaid in the main run.

• Issue final pay
  A departing employee needs to be paid before the next scheduled pay date.

• Process bonuses or adjustments
  You’re paying a one-time bonus, commission, or retroactive adjustment.

• Make a manual correction
  You need to fix an error for an employee without reprocessing the full run.

• Reimburse expenses
  A taxable or non-taxable reimbursement needs to be paid separately.

When not to use an off-cycle payroll

Avoid using off-cycle payrolls for:

• Paying all employees on a regular pay date
  (Use your regular payroll schedule instead)

• Correcting previously submitted government filings
  (Use amendments or overrides for that purpose)

Things to keep in mind

• Tip: For final pay, always complete the regular payroll first. This ensures proper CPP, EI, and tax treatment.

• Note: Off-cycle payrolls still generate government remittances for applicable earnings, even if you process the payment manually.