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How to Run an Off-Cycle Payroll

Available for the following plans: Employment Unlimited

An off-cycle payroll allows you to process payments outside of your standard pay schedule. This is useful for one-off payments such as bonuses, corrections, termination pay, or missed expenses.

Before you begin

Processing Time: If you intend to pay via direct deposit, ensure your "Pay Date" is set at least 4 business days in the future to allow for bank processing times.

Zero Earnings: Unlike a standard pay run, an off-cycle payroll starts with $0.00 earnings for all employees. You must manually add the specific earnings for each person.

Getting started

Step 1: Create the Pay Run

Navigate to Payroll on the left-hand sidebar and select Run Payroll.

  • Click the purple + Create a new payroll button in the top right corner.
  • In the Pay schedule name dropdown menu, select Off Cycle.
  • Fill in the required date fields:
    • Pay period: Verify the period cycle (usually "1 of 1").
    • Period end date: Select the end date for this specific pay period.
    • Pay date: Select the date the employees will receive funds.
  • Click Continue to add employees.
Step 2: Add Employees

You can choose to pay the entire company or specific individuals.

  1. Select one of the following options:
    • All employees: Adds everyone in the system to this run.
    • Selected employees: Allows you to pick specific individuals.
  2. If choosing Selected employees, use the search bar to find employees by name, cost center, or pay schedule.
  3. If you want to remove a selected employee, click on the trash can icon.
  4. Once all necessary employees are added, click Create payroll.
Step 3: Add Earnings

The payroll will load with all employees showing $0.00 in gross pay. You must now manually input what they are being paid.

  1. Click on an employee’s name to expand their pay details.
  2. Click the green + Add earnings for this employee link.
  3. Enter the payment details:

    • Income Type: Select the category (e.g., Vacation Pay, Bonus, Salary).
    • Cost Centre
    • Notes: (Optional) Add a reference note for the payment.
    • Rate/Amount: Enter the specific dollar amount or percentage.
    • Hours/Units

    Important: Click Save in the top right corner of the employee's earnings box before navigating away. If you do not click save, your changes will be lost.

  4. Repeat this process for every employee included in the pay run.
Step 4: Finalize and Complete

Once all earnings have been entered and saved:

  1. Click the purple Complete payroll button.

  2. A summary window, "You are about to complete this payroll," will appear. Review the following settings:

    • Pay date & Run by date: Confirm these are correct.

    • Payment and account debit settings: Choose how the net pay will be funded (e.g., Manually fund net pay vs. Direct Deposit).

    • Publish employee paystubs: Choose if/when paystubs become visible to employees.

    • Employee notifications: Select Send notifications to employees if you want them alerted immediately.

  3. Click Complete payroll to finalize the process.

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