What Do I Need to Do Differently in Leap Years or If Pay Day Falls on a Bank Holiday?
How to handle payroll scheduling when dates shift unexpectedly
Payroll doesn’t pause for calendar quirks — but there are a few adjustments to keep in mind when pay day falls on a bank holiday, or during a leap year.
We’ll always help you plan ahead, but here’s what you need to know.
🏦 If Pay Day Falls on a Bank Holiday or Weekend
If your regular pay day lands on a UK bank holiday (or weekend), payments will need to be made early, as BACS and banking systems will not process on these dates.
Here’s what happens:
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Your payroll will be scheduled to be paid early, typically the last working day before the bank holiday.
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HMRC submissions will also be brought forward.
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We’ll notify you in advance and may adjust your payroll deadline to ensure compliance.
What you need to do:
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Submit your payroll data earlier than usual
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Approve reports as soon as they’re ready
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Watch for reminders from us in advance of affected dates
📆 Leap Years — What Changes?
A leap year adds an extra day to the calendar: 29 February.
What it impacts:
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Monthly-paid employees are unaffected — salaries remain fixed
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Weekly or four-weekly-paid employees may see a change in number of pay runs per year (depending on payroll structure)
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RTI (Real Time Information) submissions must reflect the correct pay date, including 29 February
What we do:
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Our system automatically handles leap year logic
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No action is needed unless you have complex custom schedules — in which case, we’ll advise you directly
📅 Want a Payroll Calendar?
If you’d like a calendar showing payroll deadlines and known bank holidays:
💬 Contact us here and we’ll share one with your dates pre-marked.