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Checklist for Getting Started with Payroll - Singapore Companies
Checklist for Getting Started with Payroll - Singapore Companies

Checklist to set up payroll for the first time

Yuvo-san avatar
Written by Yuvo-san
Updated over 2 years ago

When you're setting up the payroll module for the first time, here are the things you need to take note of.

Note: You can click on the links throughout this article to find out more about particular topics.


Step 1: Check Key Information

In order for payroll to work properly, the following information is required. Please ensure that all details have been filled out correctly.

For the company

Under Company > Company Profile:

For each employee

Under My Employees > Personal > Profile & Personal Contact Details

  • Date of birth

  • Race

  • Religion

Under My Employees > Personal > Residency

  • NRIC/FIN *Note that Nationality needs to be set by Admin under Career Progression in order for this field to work

Under My Employees > Personal > Bank details

  • Bank details

Under My Employees > Employment > Employment Details

  • Country of work

  • Currency

Under My Employees > Career Progression

  • Nationality

  • Work pass type and sub type

  • PR effective date

  • Rate of pay

  • Basic pay

  • Joining date


Step 2: Add Pay Types

The default pay types such as basic salary, CPF contribution, etc. will already be in the system, so you don't need to set these up.

All CPF, SDL, SHG contributions will be automatically calculated and added to each employee's payroll.

The basic salary will also be automatically calculated, taking into account any leave that the employee has taken.

If you have any other pay types that are applicable, you can add them in two ways:

  1. From the Pay Types Gallery

  2. By creating a New Pay Type

1. Adding pay types from the Pay Types Gallery

When adding Pay Types, you can first look at our Pay Types Gallery to see if it already exists.

Go to Payroll > Pay Types > From Gallery.

You can search for a pay type using the search bar, or filter by type.

To add a pay type, click on the "+" button. You will be taken to the "Create Pay Type" screen where some fields will be pre-filled for you.

For each Pay Type, be sure to fill out the following information:

  1. Fill in the name and a short description for the pay type

  2. Select whether it is an Addition (to add to pay) or Deduction (to deduct from pay)

    • For example, commission is an Addition, while unpaid leave is a Deduction

    • If you select Addition, you will be prompted to select whether it is in the Gross Rate. This will impact the leave pay calculations (if using gross rate) as well as the unpaid leave calculations. Find out more about payroll formulas here.

  3. Select whether it is CPF Payable

  4. Select whether it is SDL Applicable

  5. Select whether it is SHG Applicable

  6. Select the Tax Type (same as in IR8A form)

2. Creating New Pay Type

If you don't see what you want in the Pay Types Gallery, you can click on New Pay Type to create one from scratch.

For each Pay Type, be sure to fill out the following information:

  1. Fill in the name and a short description for the pay type

  2. Select whether it is an Addition (to add to pay) or Deduction (to deduct from pay)

    • For example, commission is an Addition, while unpaid leave is a Deduction

    • If you select Addition, you will be prompted to select whether it is in the Gross Rate. This will impact the leave pay calculations (if using gross rate) as well as the unpaid leave calculations. Find out more about payroll formulas here.

  3. Select whether it is CPF Payable

  4. Select whether it is SDL Applicable

  5. Select whether it is SHG Applicable

  6. Select the Tax Type (same as in IR8A form)

Editing Pay Type

If at any time you wish to edit or delete a custom pay type, you can click on the pencil icon to edit, or the bin icon to delete.

System pay types cannot be edited or deleted. They will not have the pencil or bin icon showing.

Adding Pay Type to Payroll

Once the Pay Type is set up, you will be able to add it to a particular employee's payslip by clicking on the "Add new pay type" dropdown menu in each payroll.


Step 3: Configure Payroll Settings

Go to Payroll > Settings.

Choose the leave pay formula you wish to use, and how you wish to key in overtime hours.


Step 4: Create and Run Payroll

When you're ready to run payroll, you can follow the steps outlined in this article.

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