Pay Frequencies

This article covers pay frequencies, the pay frequencies supported by Check, and their impact on payroll processing.

Pay frequency refers to how often a worker receives payment. You, as an Employer, choose a pay frequency based on state legislation. Many states mandate how often you must pay Employees and how soon after the pay period ends you must issue payments. Special rules apply when issuing a final payment after termination.

When you select a pay frequency during setup, Check calculates tax withholdings according to that frequency.

Check supports the following pay frequencies:

You can view and edit default pay frequencies for your company on the Company Info tab. When you create or update a payroll, you select the pay frequency at the payroll level.

Yes. If you run payrolls with different frequencies, you define the pay frequency for each payroll.

When you change a pay frequency, Check automatically recalculates federal, state, and local tax withholdings based on the new frequency. Because tax brackets and withholding tables vary by pay frequency, updating the frequency ensures accurate payroll taxes.

Yes. Each state sets requirements for how often you must pay Employees and how soon you must issue payments after a pay period ends. For example, some states require weekly payment for hourly Employees, while others allow semi-monthly or monthly. Consult state labor laws and refer to your state’s department of labor guidance. Check calculates tax withholdings but does not enforce state timing rules—you remain responsible for compliance.

When an Employee is terminated, state law often requires you to pay earned wages within a certain timeframe (for example, within three business days). In the Console, update the Employee’s status to terminated and process a final payroll. Check uses the pay frequency and termination date to calculate earned wages and withholdings.

Yes. To change pay frequency for an individual Employee, update their pay frequency on the relevant payroll. Check recalculates year-to-date tax withholdings based on the new frequency. Ensure you review any year-to-date differences before processing that payroll.