Payroll Period

Overview

Payroll Period – Business Overview

Payroll Period is a foundational business document used to define the time frame for which employee salaries are calculated and paid. It establishes clear start and end dates for payroll processing, ensuring that wages, benefits, and deductions are consistently and accurately applied for a specific period such as a month, fortnight, or custom pay cycle.

Purpose in Business Operations

The Payroll Period helps the organization: - Standardize salary calculation cycles
- Align payroll processing with attendance, leave, and compensation policies
- Ensure timely and accurate payment of employee wages
- Support compliance with labor laws and internal payroll controls

By clearly defining the payroll window, the business avoids confusion around which attendance records, allowances, or deductions apply to a specific salary run.

Prerequisites and Setup Requirements

Before using Payroll Period effectively, the business should have: - A defined payroll structure or salary policy for employees
- Clear pay frequency rules (monthly, bi-weekly, etc.)
- Employee records with assigned salary and employment details
- Agreed internal timelines for payroll processing and approvals

Having these elements in place ensures that each Payroll Period reflects the company’s actual payroll practices.

Typical Workflow and Business Fit

Define the Payroll Period
The payroll or HR team creates a Payroll Period with specific start and end dates.
Collect Payroll Inputs
Attendance, overtime, leave, incentives, and deductions are gathered for that period.
Process Payroll
Salaries are calculated based on the defined Payroll Period.
Review and Approval
Payroll results are reviewed and approved according to company policy.
Salary Disbursement
Payments are released to employees for the completed Payroll Period.

This document acts as the anchor that connects attendance, salary calculation, and payment activities into one coherent process.

Key Business Scenarios Where Payroll Period Is Essential

Monthly or bi-weekly salary processing
Managing payroll across multiple business units with the same pay cycle
Ensuring accurate cutoff dates for overtime and leave calculations
Supporting audits and payroll reporting by clearly identifying pay cycles

Without a properly defined Payroll Period, salary calculations can become inconsistent or disputed.

Important Considerations for Users

Ensure Payroll Period dates do not overlap to avoid double counting or missing data
Align Payroll Periods with statutory and contractual pay requirements
Lock or finalize Payroll Periods once payroll is completed to maintain data integrity
Communicate Payroll Period timelines clearly to employees and managers

In summary, Payroll Period is a simple but critical business document that brings structure, clarity, and consistency to the payroll process, supporting accurate salary payments and reliable payroll operations across the organization.

Basic Information

Module: Payroll
Document Type: Other

Fields

Field Name	Label	Type	Required	Options	Description
company	Company	Link	✓	Company	Company under Dafater for which payroll period is defined
start_date	Start Date	Date	✓	-	Beginning date of payroll calculation period in Dafater
end_date	End Date	Date	✓	-	Ending date of payroll calculation period in Dafater
periods	Payroll Periods	Table		Payroll Period Date	List of detailed payroll periods generated within this payroll cycle in Dafater

Child Tables

Payroll Periods (Payroll Period Date)

Field Name	Label	Type	Required	Options	Description
start_date	Start Date	Date	✓	-	Payroll period start date for salary calculations in Dafater.
end_date	End Date	Date	✓	-	Payroll period end date for salary calculations in Dafater.

Permissions

Role	Read	Write	Create	Delete
System Manager	✓	✓	✓	✓
HR Manager	✓	✓	✓	✓
Employee	✓
HR User	✓	✓	✓	✓

DocType	Relationship	Module
Employee Benefit Application	Linked from	Payroll
Employee Other Income	Linked from	Payroll
Employee Tax Exemption Declaration	Linked from	Payroll
Employee Tax Exemption Proof Submission	Linked from	Payroll
Company	Links to	Setup