Payslips and Payroll: What Employers Need to Know

Whatever the size of your business, getting payroll records right matters, both so you have a clear picture of your labour costs, and so your staff are confident they’re being paid correctly. Here are the questions employers ask us most often.

When and how must a payslip be provided?

A payslip must be given to an employee within one working day of pay day, even if they’re on leave. It can be electronic or paper; an electronic payslip must contain the same information as a paper one.

What has to be on a payslip?

Each payslip must show:

  • The employer’s and employee’s names, and the employer’s ABN
  • The pay period and the date of payment
  • If the employee is paid hourly: the ordinary hourly rate, hours worked at that rate, and the total
  • Any loadings, allowances, bonuses, penalty rates, or other separately identifiable entitlements
  • Deductions from pay, with the amount and details of each
  • Superannuation contributions: the amount paid or payable for the period, and the fund name

What’s the minimum wage?

The National Minimum Wage is reviewed by the Fair Work Commission every 1 July. As at 1 July 2026 it’s $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a standard 38-hour week, but many employees are covered by a Modern Award with a higher minimum rate for their industry or role. Check the current figure and any applicable award on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website, or ask us.

Does accrued leave need to appear on the payslip?

It can, but it isn’t compulsory. Full-time and part-time employees generally accrue leave; casuals generally don’t.

How should payroll records be kept?

Pay and time records must be kept for seven years, in a form that’s legible, in English, and accessible to a Fair Work Inspector on request. Records can’t be false or misleading, and generally shouldn’t be altered except to correct a genuine error.

What happens if records aren’t kept properly?

Creating or keeping false or misleading employment records is unlawful. If an employer hasn’t kept records, or the records are wrong, and this is confirmed by a Fair Work Inspector, penalties apply.

Who’s responsible for PAYG withholding?

The employer is responsible for remitting PAYG withholding to the ATO and for any shortfall. That includes:

  • Reporting and paying withheld amounts to the ATO for every employee
  • Providing payment summaries to staff
  • Preparing and lodging the annual PAYG withholding report

What’s an annual payment summary?

Sometimes still called a group certificate, this is a summary the employer must give each employee after the end of the financial year, covering that year’s income for their tax return. It includes the employer’s details (name and ABN), and the employee’s name, TFN, dates employed, gross wages, tax withheld, work-related allowances, and any reportable employer super contributions above the compulsory rate.

Getting payroll set up correctly from the start saves a lot of cleanup later. If you’d like us to review your payroll process, contact us.