Payroll Cut Off Date Calculator 2026
Instantly work out your payroll cut off date — the last day timesheets, expenses, and new starter details can be submitted before the next pay run. Built for HR teams, small business owners, and employees.
Cut Off Date Finder
Enter your payday and processing details to find your submission deadline
The date employees are due to be paid.
How many days before payday your payroll team needs to process submissions.
Used to estimate your following pay period’s cut off date.
Most payroll teams count lead time in working days only.
Your Cut Off Date Result
Submission deadline and next pay period breakdown
Enter your pay date and lead time above and click Calculate Cut Off Date to reveal your payroll deadline.
Typical Payroll Cut Off Lead Times
Quickly reference typical payroll processing lead times by pay frequency. Actual lead times vary by company size and payroll provider.
| Pay Frequency | Typical Lead Time | Example Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Payroll | 1–2 business days | Payday Friday, cut off Wednesday |
| Biweekly Payroll | 2–4 business days | Payday Friday, cut off previous Monday |
| Semi-Monthly Payroll | 3–5 business days | Payday 15th, cut off 10th |
| Monthly Payroll | 5–7 business days | Payday last day of month, cut off around the 22nd |
Payroll Cut Off Date FAQ
Everything you need to know about payroll cut off dates, processing lead times, and keeping your pay run on schedule.
A payroll cut off date is the final day on which timesheets, expense claims, or new starter information must be submitted in order to be included in a specific pay run. Any hours or changes submitted after this date are typically processed in the following pay period.
The cut off date is calculated by counting back a set number of days (the processing lead time) from the intended pay date. This lead time allows payroll teams enough time to verify hours, calculate deductions, and process payments before the payday itself.
Most payroll teams only process work on business days, so cut off dates are often calculated using working days rather than calendar days. This ensures the payroll team has genuine working time to process submissions, rather than losing processing time to a weekend.
If a timesheet or claim is submitted after the cut off date, it usually cannot be included in the current pay run. It is instead carried over and paid in the next pay period, alongside that period’s approved hours and claims.
Yes. Weekly payroll typically has a very short lead time of one to two days, biweekly payroll often allows two to four days, and monthly or semi-monthly payroll usually requires a longer lead time of five or more working days due to the higher volume of calculations.
Yes. When a scheduled cut off date or pay date falls on a public holiday or non-working day, payroll teams commonly bring the cut off date forward to the nearest preceding business day to keep the pay run on schedule.