What Do I Need to Do Differently in Leap Years or If Pay Day Falls on a Bank Holiday?

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:

• Your payroll will be scheduled to be paid early, typically the last working day before the bank holiday.

• HMRC submissions will also be brought forward.

• We’ll notify you in advance and may adjust your payroll deadline to ensure compliance.

What you need to do:

• Submit your payroll data earlier than usual

• Approve reports as soon as they’re ready

• 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:

• Monthly-paid employees are unaffected — salaries remain fixed

• Weekly or four-weekly-paid employees may see a change in number of pay runs per year (depending on payroll structure)

• RTI (Real Time Information) submissions must reflect the correct pay date, including 29 February

What we do:

• Our system automatically handles leap year logic

• 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.