Toast Payroll: Review Check Frequencies

What is check frequency and how does it relate to Toast Payroll?

Check frequency (also known as pay frequency) is defined as the frequency at which you produce employee wages. It is the amount of time between each pay period and determines how often you pay employees. 

In order to process payroll, a default check frequency must be set up in the database. Check frequency is important for two main reasons: It ties deductions to various earnings and automates the taxation associated with the type of check frequency that is used. Each client must have at least two check frequencies set up in their database. There are four types of check frequencies: weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly.

• Biweekly: 26 pay periods per year. Employees are paid every other week and receive their pay on the same day of each week. Most of the time, employees are paid twice per month, with the exception of two months out of the year in which they are paid three times per month. This is the most common frequency.
• Semimonthly: 24 pay periods per year. Semimonthly employees are paid twice per month every month and employees are always paid on specific dates, often the 15th and the last day of each month. 
• Weekly: 52 pay periods per year. Employees receive their wages each week, but they will be worth less than if they were paid biweekly or semimonthly.
• Monthly: 12 pay periods per year. Employees receive one paycheck each month, but they will be worth more than if they were paid biweekly or semimonthly. Employees often report how difficult it is to financially plan with this frequency, so this one is the least-commonly used.

Check frequency is set on a per-pay group level (Toast Payroll: Review Pay Groups) and cannot be set at an individual level. Also, the Create Additional Paycheck feature is only available to customers who have at least two check frequencies. If you'd like to change your check frequency or add a new one, contact us via the blue chat dot in the lower-right corner of any Toast Payroll page.

This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal, tax, HR, or any other professional advice. Please contact an attorney or other professional for advice.