Payroll is an essential aspect of running a business. Every employer should be aware of the following Payroll Terms. Understanding the language always aids in the negotiation of new territory. Continue reading to become acquainted with these essential Payroll Terms And Acronyms.

What is payroll?

Before going through the Payroll Terms, it is important to know the definition of payroll. Payroll is a catch-all term for several things. It is the monthly salary paid to employees as well as the additional deductions which the employer must make. Payroll is the method by which employees after determining their owed amount. Payroll processing involves the names, hours, wages, worked, benefits, deductions, and taxes of the employees.

The following are some of the Basic Terms in Payroll.

1. Gross pay

Gross pay, in Payroll Terminology, is the total salary earned by an employee before payroll deductions. For salaried workers, this is derived by dividing the employee’s total annual or yearly pay by the number of pay periods, such as 12 and for hourly employees, by multiplying hourly wages by the number of hours worked, including overtime. Gross pay or gross wages is the sum that is displayed on an employment offer to the applicant.

2. Net pay

One of the Basic Terms in Payroll is Net pay which refers to the amount of salary that an employee receives after deducting taxes and payroll deductions. This is the final paycheck that is deposited into the employee’s bank account. Net pay is also referred to as ‘take-home pay’.

3. Pay period

The pay period, in Payroll Terminology, refers to the period during which the employer has to pay the employees. It refers to how regularly a company processes payroll. Pay periods that are commonly used include monthly, weekly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly. The number of pay periods in a year is important in calculating total annual pay for employees.

4. Overtime 

This is a payroll term that is widely used but rarely acknowledged. When a worker is employed for more hours than usual, the employer is required to pay a bonus to reimburse for these extra hours. The overtime payment is greater than the employee’s gross pay.

5. Compensation 

Compensation is a broad term that refers to all of the different types of payments that an employee receives. Every employer provides some sort of additional benefit to their employees, which could include fringe benefits, bonuses, stock options, and so on.

6. Exempt employees

Organisations usually define their exempt and non-exempt employees. Exempt means “not required to work overtime.” Exempt employees are not compensated for overtime. This is due to the fact that their jobs necessitate some overtime. Handling one’s own payroll for one’s business can be difficult because the payroll process requires a completely new vocabulary. These are the most important Payroll Terms And Acronyms employers will come across as they begin to work on paychecks, which marks the beginning of the payroll process. If you have been getting confused with all these Payroll Terms, then Meru Accounting is here to help you out.