Use this overview to work out what needs correcting, choose a suitable method and check what remains to be done afterwards. Follow the individual guide for the detailed steps.
1. Work out what needs to be corrected
Before you start
Identify what is wrong with the payroll records or payment.
Identify the affected employees.
Confirm the payroll country.
Confirm the affected period end and payday, and whether the pay is open or completed.
Check any correction or settlement already made, including an adjustment in a later pay.
2. Work out the payment outcome
Compare the correct net amount due with the money the employee has actually received. Work out which position applies:
The employee has already received the correct amount of money.
The employee is unpaid.
The employee has received too little money.
The employee has received too much money.
Before changing payroll, keep the original figures and the correct amount due. Use:
Reports: record the original net pay and the correct net amount due from the appropriate reports in the Reports screen, where available.
Payslips: retain the affected employees’ original net pay figures.
Bank transactions: separately record money actually paid or returned, and check pending transfers.
If payroll is already correct and only money is outstanding, use the net-settlement guide under Post correction rather than recording the earnings again.
3. Choose a suitable correction method
Choose the method that fits the payroll records and circumstances. Each guide explains its preparation and process.
Correct an open pay
If the pay is still open, correct its inputs and complete the normal pay process.
For the steps, refer to:
Correct earnings in the next normal pay
This may suit unchanged completed earnings when a later adjustment is appropriate for the country and agreed with the employee. Do not correct the same earnings twice.
For the steps, refer to:
Restore and reprocess payroll
Use a suitable backup when the agreed method is to change completed pay records. Restore replaces the whole company database and removes later work. Check what must be recreated before choosing this method.
For the steps, refer to:
Record a missed employee pay or pay period
Use this method when an employee pay entry or a whole pay period is missing, including where money was paid manually without a payroll entry.
For the steps, refer to:
Record back pay
Use back pay for additional earnings from a retrospective entitlement or rate change. Follow the guide to assign the amount using an appropriate back-pay allowance code and complete the normal pay process.
For the steps, refer to:
Correct leave balances
Use the existing leave guide to correct a leave balance. A leave-balance adjustment does not itself correct earnings or money.
For the applicable task, refer to:
4. Post correction
Calculate any remaining difference between the corrected net amount due and money already paid or returned. Then choose how to settle it using the shared guide. Account for any next-pay adjustment already addressing the difference so you do not recover or correct the same amount twice.
For any remaining net payment difference, refer to:
Consult the guide for the relevant country for any filing requirements and receipt checks. Ordinary back pay follows its normal pay process; it does not require a separate settlement workflow unless a payment difference remains.
For the applicable country guidance, refer to: