Understanding Payroll Processing Deadlines

⚡ What are Payroll Processing Deadlines?

Payroll processing deadlines define when payroll must be processed (also referred to as approved) in your account for employees to be paid on the expected payday.

These deadlines are based on your company’s location, the payment method used to pay your employees, and the scheduled pay date for the relevant pay period. 

Payroll must be processed several business days before the pay date to meet processing requirements.

For example, if payroll is scheduled to be paid on a Friday, it cannot be processed on that same Friday and be paid to employees on that day. Payroll must be processed in advance based on the deadline.

💡 | Tip: To stay ahead of upcoming deadlines, consider setting a reminder for your payroll cut-off date or regularly reviewing your Payroll Schedule.

🔎 Why Do Payroll Deadlines Exist?

Payroll deadlines are in place to support this process and ensure employees are paid without delays.

They provide time to:

• Bank processing: Process direct deposit transactions through banking systems to ensure funds are transferred on time.
• Fund withdrawal & verification: Securely withdraw funds from your account and ensure sufficient funds are available before processing.
• Issue resolution: Identify and resolve issues like insufficient funds (NSF) and allow time to contact you if corrections are needed.
• On-time employee pay: Ensure employees are paid on the expected payday without delays.
• Cheque preparation & delivery: Prepare and deliver Push-issued cheques in time to avoid shipping or distribution delays.

🔐 Access required

Our Payroll feature is available to all subscriptions that have the Payroll Add-On.

Who can manage Payroll Deadlines?

• Super Administrators: Full access to manage payroll processing, and contact Support for assistance with payroll deadlines, requests, or changes.
• Team Administrators: Limited access to process payroll and contact Support for payroll deadline inquiries or changes if the Run Payroll permission is granted. If you are unable to access, please confirm your permissions with a Super Administrator.

📋 Topics covered in this article:

• Payroll Processing Deadlines (Canada, US, & Stat Holidays)
• How to Determine When to Process Payroll
• What Happens if I Miss the Payroll Deadline
• Requesting Help for Late Payroll or Pay Date Changes
• Frequently Asked Questions

📚 Related articles:

• When and How to Unapprove a Payroll
• Check out our dedicated Payroll section to find how-to guides, FAQs, and more.

Payroll Processing Deadlines

Payroll processing deadlines are based on your company’s location, the payment method used to pay your employees, and your scheduled pay date. Depending on these factors, your payroll processing deadline and cut-off timing will differ.

This section outlines both:

• Standard payroll processing deadlines.
• Adjusted deadlines during statutory holidays, when processing timelines or pay dates may change.

To ensure employees are paid on time, payroll must be processed before the applicable deadline. If payroll is processed after the deadline, the pay date may be adjusted to the next available processing day.

📌 | Note: In some cases, processing deadlines may vary depending on your account. If you are unsure which deadlines apply to you, please contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com for confirmation.

🇨🇦  Canada Payroll Deadlines

For companies based in Canada, payroll processing deadlines depend on the payment method used to pay your employees.

Direct Deposit:

 For companies paying employees via direct deposit in Canada, payroll must be processed no later than 3 business days before the pay date, by 3:00 PM PST, to meet the processing deadline.

Example: If payday is Friday, payroll must be processed no later than Tuesday at 3:00 PM PST.

Push-Issued Cheques:

For companies paying employees via Push-issued cheques in Canada, payroll must be processed no later than 2 business days before the pay date, by 10:00 AM PST, to allow time for cheque preparation and delivery. This option may not be available for all accounts.

Example: If payday is Friday, payroll must be processed no later than Wednesday at 10:00 AM PST.

Company-Issued Cheques:

For companies paying employees via company-issued cheques in Canada, these deadlines do not apply, as payment is handled directly by your business. However, we still recommend processing payroll in advance of your pay date to ensure reporting and remittances are completed on time.

💡 | Tip: Business days do not include weekends. Always count backward from your pay date, using only business days.

🇺🇸 US Payroll Deadlines

For companies based in the United States, payroll processing deadlines depend on the payment method used to pay your employees.

Direct Deposit:

For companies in the United States paying employees via direct deposit, payroll must be processed no later than 4 business days before the pay date, by 12:00 PM (Noon) PST, to meet the processing deadline.

Example: If payday is Friday, payroll must be processed no later than Monday at 12:00 PM PST.

Push-Issued Cheques:

For companies in the United States paying employees via Push-issued cheques, payroll must be processed no later than 2 business days before the pay date, by 10:00 AM PST, to allow time for cheque preparation and delivery.

This option may not be available for all accounts.

Example: If payday is Friday, payroll must be processed no later than Wednesday at 10:00 AM PST.

Company-Issued Cheques:

For companies in the United States paying employees via company-issued cheques, these deadlines do not apply, as payment is handled directly by your business. However, we still recommend processing payroll in advance of your pay date to ensure reporting and remittances are completed on time.

💡 | Tip: Business days do not include weekends. Always count backward from your pay date, using only business days.

⚠️  Statutory Holiday Payroll Deadlines

During Canadian and U.S. statutory holidays, payroll processing deadlines and scheduled pay dates may occasionally change due to banking closures and processing requirements.

When holiday-related payroll changes occur, updated deadlines and impacted pay dates will be communicated in advance through:

• In-app notification banners in the platform.
• Email communications (if subscribed).

If you’re not currently receiving our email newsletter, you can subscribe by visiting the Contact page (Push or KayaPush) on our website and entering your email at the bottom of the page.

⚠️ | Important: This section is actively updated throughout the year to reflect current and upcoming statutory holiday payroll processing changes for the month.

📌 | Note: If you are unsure how a statutory holiday may impact your payroll schedule, please contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com for clarification.

USA Juneteenth National Independence Day - June 19th, 2026

Review the table below to determine whether your scheduled payday is impacted by the Memorial Day (USA) holiday and when payroll must be processed to avoid delays.

How to Determine When to Process Payroll

Your Pay Run Schedule includes three key dates that determine when payroll should be processed:

• Start Date: The beginning of your pay period
• Cut-Off Date: The last day included in that pay period
• Pay Date: The date employees are paid

To process payroll correctly, it’s important to understand how these dates work together.

Payroll should be processed after your cut-off date has passed, to ensure all hours, earnings, and deductions have been captured. At the same time, payroll must be processed before the deadline leading up to your pay date.

To plan effectively, review both your cut-off date and pay date and ensure there is enough time between them to:

• Review employee hours and make any necessary adjustments.
• Add additional earnings or deductions.
• Process payroll before the deadline without feeling rushed.

💡 | Best Practice: We recommend having 3–5 business days between your cut-off date and pay date. This allows time for internal review while also ensuring payroll is processed on time.

How to View your Pay Run Schedule

To find your upcoming payroll deadlines and pay dates, you can view your Pay Run Schedule directly in the platform.

1. Click the Payroll tab.
2. From the left-hand navigation bar, select Payroll Schedule.
3. Here you can view the Start Date, Cut-Off Date, and Pay Day for each pay period. 
   💡| Tip: Need help finding the current pay period? Scroll the page, and you will see that the current pay period is highlighted in yellow! 

What Happens if I Miss the Payroll Deadline

If you miss the payroll processing deadline and attempt to process payroll, an in-app pop-up notification titled "Pay Date Adjustment" will appear, indicating that the deadline has been missed and that the pay date must be adjusted.

The pop-up will display the next available pay date, and you will be required to accept it before payroll can be fully processed.

If the updated pay date does not work for your business, you can contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com to review available options with our Accounting Team.

Possible options may include:

• Proceeding with direct deposit on the next available pay date.
• Switching to company-issued cheques to pay employees sooner.
• In some cases, reviewing whether the original scheduled pay date can still be met, depending on timing and processing constraints

⚠️ | Important: In some cases, accommodating changes after the deadline, such as maintaining the original pay date, may involve a late processing fee and is not guaranteed.

Requesting Help for Late Payroll or Pay Date Changes

If you miss the payroll deadline or need help reviewing your available options, we recommend contacting our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com as soon as possible so your request can be reviewed in time.

Our team can help assess your situation and coordinate with our Accounting Team to determine what options may be available.

Depending on your situation, you may need to submit one of the following requests:

Late Payroll Submission

Use this request if you missed the processing deadline and have not yet completed payroll, and want to confirm whether it is still possible to keep your original scheduled pay date before proceeding.

This may apply if you are considering alternative payment methods, such as switching from direct deposit to company-issued cheques, in order to pay employees sooner.

• Email: support@pushoperations.com
• Subject line: Late Payroll Submission
• Include: Company name and the dates of the specific pay period 

Pay Date Adjustment Request

Use this request if you have already processed payroll, but need to confirm whether the pay date can be adjusted, either earlier or later.

This may apply:

If you need to delay the pay date due to business decisions or funding availability, or you accepted the updated pay date during processing, but now need to revisit and potentially adjust it.

•  Email: support@pushoperations.com
• Subject line: Late Payday Adjustment
• Include: Company name, dates of the specific pay period, and the requested new pay date 

Frequently Asked Questions About Payroll Processing Deadlines

Have questions about payroll processing deadlines? Whether you’re wondering when payroll needs to be processed, what happens if you miss a deadline, or how pay dates may be affected, this section provides quick answers to help you manage your payroll with confidence.

💡| Tip: Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our Getting Help & Contacting Support article for the latest ways to connect with our team.
 

Q: When should I process payroll for each pay period?
A: Payroll should be processed after your cut-off date has passed, but before the required processing deadline leading up to your pay date. This ensures all hours and adjustments are included while still allowing enough time for processing.

For a full breakdown of deadlines by location and payment method, refer to the Payroll Processing Deadlines section of this article.

Q: What determines my payroll processing deadline?
A: Your deadline is based on three key factors:

• Your company’s location (Canada or the United States)
• The payment method used (direct deposit, Push-issued cheque, or company-issued cheque)
• Your scheduled pay date

For a full breakdown of deadlines by location and payment method, refer to the Payroll Processing Deadlines section of this article.

Q: What happens if I miss the payroll deadline?
A: If you attempt to process payroll after the deadline, an in-app pop-up notification will appear informing you that the pay date will be adjusted. You will need to accept the new pay date before proceeding.

If you miss the deadline, we recommend contacting our Support Team as soon as possible to review your options.

For more details, please refer to the What Happens If I Miss the Deadline? section of this article.

Q: Can I still pay employees on the original pay date if I’m late processing?
A: In most cases, no. However, you may have options depending on your situation, such as switching to company-issued cheques or contacting our Support team at support@pushoperations.com to review what may be possible.

Q: Is there a way to receive reminders before payroll is due?
A: Yes. You can set up a Paydate Reminder Alarm to notify yourself or your team before an upcoming payroll deadline.

This alarm can be configured to send a reminder for how many days in advance you would like to receive it before payday.

For setup instructions and more details, refer to this dedicated article.

Q: Can I request a different pay date after processing payroll?
A: Yes, you can contact our Support team at support@pushoperations.com to request a pay date adjustment. Note that these requests are reviewed by our Accounting Team and are not guaranteed.

Q: Do payroll deadlines change based on how I pay employees?
A: Yes. Deadlines differ depending on whether you are using direct deposit, Push-issued cheques, or company-issued cheques.

Q: Do statutory holidays affect payroll deadlines?
A: Yes. During statutory holidays, your scheduled pay date and payroll processing deadline may be adjusted due to banking closures and processing requirements. In many cases, payroll may need to be processed earlier than usual to ensure employees are paid on time.

We recommend reviewing the Statutory Holiday Payroll Deadlines section of this article for current holiday-related processing deadlines and impacted pay dates.

Updated deadlines and payroll changes are also communicated in advance through in-app notification banners in the platform and email communications (if subscribed).

If you’re not currently receiving our email newsletter, you can subscribe by visiting the Contact page (Push or KayaPush) on our website and entering your email at the bottom of the page.

Q: Why do payroll deadlines change during statutory holidays?
A: To help ensure employees are paid on time, payroll processing deadlines may change during statutory holidays because banks and payment processors are often closed or operating on modified schedules. This can shorten normal processing timelines and impact when payroll needs to be completed.

For holiday-specific payroll deadlines and updates, refer to the Statutory Holiday Payroll Deadlines section of this article.

Q: What should I do if the statutory holiday payroll deadline occurs before my pay period ends?
A: In some cases, statutory holiday payroll processing deadlines may occur before your pay period has fully ended. This can impact businesses that are still waiting for employee clocks or hours to be finalized before processing payroll.

Because hours that are still actively being worked or not yet finalized may not automatically appear in payroll, we recommend contacting our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com as early as possible if your adjusted payroll deadline overlaps with your active pay period.

Our team can review your situation with our Accounting Team to determine whether alternative processing options or accommodations may be available.

Q: Can I change the pay date after payroll has already been processed?
A: You can contact our Support Team at support@pushoperations.com to request a pay date adjustment, whether you want to pay employees earlier or later. These requests are reviewed by our Accounting Team and are not guaranteed, as they must still align with processing timelines.

We recommend reaching out as soon as possible and including your company name, the specific pay period, and the requested pay date so our team can review your options.

Q: I thought I approved payroll, but it still shows as unapproved. Can employees still be paid on time?
A: If payroll has not been processed yet, you can proceed with processing. The system will notify you if your original pay date can still be maintained based on the deadline. If a new pay date is shown, contact our Support Team immediately to review whether your original pay date can still be met or if alternative options are available.

Q: I missed the payroll deadline. Can I still process payroll?
A: Yes, you can still process payroll, but your pay date will likely be adjusted.

If you want to check whether your original pay date can still be maintained, contact our Support Team as soon as possible so they can review your situation with our Accounting Team.

Q: I only processed payroll a few minutes late. Can employees still be paid on the original pay date?
A: In some cases, yes. Even if payroll was processed shortly after the deadline, there may still be options to maintain the original pay date depending on timing, payment method, and processing constraints.

You should still process payroll in the platform, as the system will notify you if the pay date must be adjusted.

If the platform shows a new pay date but you would like to confirm whether your original pay date can still be maintained, please contact our Support Team as soon as possible. Our team can review your situation with the Accounting Team to determine what options may be available.

Q: Why am I unable to process payroll due to an error about an incomplete setup?
A: This typically occurs when your account setup is still incomplete, which is common during onboarding.

The system prevents payroll processing if the required information is missing. This may include:

• Tasks your team needs to complete (e.g. FEIN number or WCB Rate).
• Our team is finalizing tasks (e.g., uploading employee data).

If you encounter this issue, please reach out to your assigned team member from our Onboarding Team for guidance on the payroll processing timelines.

Additional Information

Need further help? Refer to our Getting Help & Contacting Support article for the latest support options and ways to connect with our team.