Paying an Off-Cycle Bonus
Christmas bonus, missed-hours correction, severance top-up — money outside the regular schedule, done in ten minutes.
First: is off-cycle the right tool?
| Situation | Right move |
|---|---|
| Regular run not yet approved, error found | Fix the regular run and recalculate — no off-cycle needed. |
| Regular run approved but not published | Recall it, fix, re-approve. |
| Regular run published; payment was missed or a bonus is due | Off-cycle run. |
| Recurring extra (monthly commission) | Not off-cycle — a standing allowance, or an allowance import on the regular run. |
The run
- Create Pay Run → Create Off Cycle. Pick the group, period, and pay date — employees already paid in the period can be included, which is the point.
- The run starts empty — no earnings, allowances, or deductions come in automatically. Right-click employees → Add Earnings, enter amounts by date (Distribute Evenly splits a total). Add any allowances or deductions that should apply, per person.
- Check taxes in each employee's details: statutory deductions calculate on top of the period's year-to-date, with annual caps shared with the regular run — not reset.
- Approve and Publish exactly like a regular run. A separate payslip goes out, and the bank file export covers just this run.
Full detail: Off-Cycle Pay Runs.
Tell people the bonus is taxed
The most common bonus-day question isn't about the amount — it's "why isn't it the full $1,000?" Off-cycle pay goes through the same statutory engines as regular pay. A one-line heads-up with the announcement saves a dozen identical queries.