This guide covers the steps involved in paying staff through Tanda Payroll for the first time. The steps covered assume that you are already using Tanda in your business for time & attendance and all relevant steps in the setup guide have been completed.
Video guide
Video guide
We've created a video guide to run your first payroll. If you'd prefer to read, continue below.
1. Finalise in your previous system
If you're transitioning from your previous payroll system mid financial year, you’ll need to finalise income statements for any employees paid in this financial year - this is the recommended method.
Alternatively, you can also import disaggregated year-to-date opening balances in Tanda and transition employee IDs from your previous system.
Learn more about both options in the Transitioning from another payroll system for STP reporting guide.
2. Turn off existing payroll integrations and enable live mode
Once you're ready to pay staff through Tanda Payroll, switch to live mode. Once you've switched, any practice pay runs made in test mode will be cleared.
To enable live mode:
Disable your existing payroll integration through Settings > Integrations
Set the Tanda Payroll file to apply to all staff (or specific locations if you have multiple payroll files) through Payroll > Payroll Settings > Reporting Details
Enable live mode under Payroll > Payroll Settings and scroll to the bottom of the page
You can switch back to test mode at any time by navigating to the bottom of the Payroll Settings page and clicking the Switch to test mode button.
💡 Important to note: once Payroll is in live mode, the ATO connection will be established ready to run payroll. Ensure you're ready to make the change when switching to live mode.
3. Approve timesheets
At the end of your pay period and on the day you normally run payroll, ensure timesheets are finalised in Tanda.
To do this, navigate to the Time & Attendance tab and select the Timesheets tab for the relevant pay period. Approve any pending timesheets.
4. Create a pay run
One timesheets have all been approved, you're ready to create a pay run.
To do so, click the Preview Export button at the top of the timesheet page.
On the next page, view a summary of the timesheets, including any warnings or errors.
Note: warnings do not prevent a pay run from being created.
Once ready, click the Create Payrun button in the top right corner.
5. Review payslips
Once the pay run has been successfully created, navigate to Payroll > Run Payroll to review payslips.
To review an employee's pay items for the pay period, click their name on the list of payslips.
If any additions need to be made, such as deductions, lump sums, or back payments, they can be made on this screen by clicking + Add next to the relevant section.
A preview of the payslip can be accessed at the top of this page, including any additions made to the pay items.
6. Post your pay run
Once payslips have been reviewed and you're ready to pay your staff, navigate back to the Run Payroll page and click the Post Pay Run button.
7. Download an ABA file
Once posted, you'll see a success screen with the option to Download ABA.
Clicking this button will provide you with the file needed to upload into your bank where staff will be paid. Learn more in the full ABA file guide.
8. Email payslips to staff
Send staff their payslips by clicking the Email Payslips button on the same page. Once emailed, payslips will also be available for staff to access in the Tanda mobile app.
9. File STP
Once a connection has been enabled to the ATO, STP can be filed. Click the File (STP) button once you've posted your pay run.
10. View journal entries
Details of the journal entries from the pay run can be found under the View journal entries tab. You'll have the option to download the totals as a CSV, or to match your accounting system at the bottom of the summary.
