---
title: "Adjustment headings: What is an addition heading?"
slug: "adjustment-headings-what-is-an-addition-heading"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:26:21Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:26:21Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/adjustment-headings-what-is-an-addition-heading"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adjustment headings: What is an addition heading?

**Adjustment Headings** are **Payment (Addition)** and **Deduction** headings. In order to record **Payments** and **Deductions** on a payslip, **Cintra iQ** allows you to set up adjustments in different categories. The category used determines how the payment or deduction heading is used. You can flag, within each adjustment heading, to say it is taxable, NIable etc.

You can attach calculations to adjustment headings so rates etc. can be calculated automatically. This is performed using **Expressions** and **Functions** and could be used for calculating overtime rates etc.

Each **Addition Heading** falls into of a number of categories – each category having their specific processing features:

## About the Addition Headings window

Go to **Cintra iQ**: Payroll > Payroll Setup > Adjustments > Addition Headings

Within the **Addition Headings** window you can perform the following:

- Create a new **Addition Heading** definition.
- Open an existing **Addition Heading** definition.
- Delete an **Addition Heading** definition.
- Report on the **Addition Headings**.

![Addition_Heading_def.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064111.png)

### Categories

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Ad Hoc Payments** | These can be cash or units multiplied by a rate. For **Ad Hoc** monetary amounts no annual or standard values are held in the system for monetary values or units. These are used for variable input only by pay period. No standard rates or values are held for an employee. Examples of these additions would include variable expenses and one-off cash adjustments such as back-pay. For any cash values that you want to be able to input variable amounts in periodic input or imported via a batch you will need to create an **Ad Hoc Payment**. |
| **Employee in Post Payments** | These additions are related to a contract or post that an employee occupies so would include overtime based on a salary of the post, for example. Standard amounts can be held by the addition heading or conditional functions can be applied to derive values based on a formula. You can also enter specific values to employees in the post. This is the most commonly used addition heading as it relates to any amount that is paid for an employee because they occupy a post. For this type of heading if an employee has differing rates in a period – this category must be used. If we need payslip to show **Basic rate** but we want the same heading to be used with units of variable rates, then use this Ad Hoc heading. ![Basic_rate.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064112.png)When values are input to an employee for this type of adjustment the post to which an employee is appointed can be selected to record the value against. This may be important for reporting or costing purposes. Where a conditional function has been used for a heading relating it to another heading then this other heading will need to be active against the employee before the related heading will activate. You do not add these adjustments to employees as they will automatically be activated by the adjustment referenced in the function. > [!TIP] > **Example:** A spinal salary related to a formula producing a rate held in the employee **Payments/Rates** form is shown below. Here the Sal Offshore name has been used to refer to a spinal column value for this post and the adjustment COTA/RMT OT uses a conditional function to generate an hourly rate: ![cota_grade_a.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064113.png)At periodic input time the derived rate can be overridden if required. |
| **Employment Standard Payments** | These additions relate to payments that are not related to an employee’s post. > [!TIP] > **Example:** **First Aid** relates to an employee whichever post they hold. Another example would be **Occupational Maternity Pay** where an employee is entitled to this regardless of the post they hold. Another example could be **Childcare Vouchers** where standard or period related values want to be added to an employee. Standard values can be held on the adjustment and can be applied to any employee that the adjusted is added or standard values can be added at employee level. In the **First Aid** example, a standard annual amount of £500 has been applied to this employee. The **FTE** can be enabled, as here, where this employee is full time. ![First_aid.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064116.png)In the **Occupational Maternity Pay** shown below, the addition heading has been set up with no standard values but you can see the employee **Payments/Rates** input allows date related input which will be activated in the relevant periods: ![Allowance_rate.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064121.png) ![From_To.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064125.png) |
| **Grade Payments** | More more information about **Grades**, see [What are Grades and Pays Spines?](/iq/docs/what-are-grades-and-pay-spines) |
| **Mileage Claims** | If you are using your own car for company business, you can claim for mileage expenses. The mileage claim heading is used if you are using the **Mileage Claim** setup. For more information, see [How Do I Enter Mileage Claims for Employees?](/iq/docs/how-do-i-enter-mileage-claims-for-employees) |
| **Occupational Sick Payments** | These are payments that are used by the **Occupational Sick Pay Scheme** functionality. It may be that just one name is used for everyone in the employment or it may be that you want to use different names for different sick pay schemes with different sets of rules in terms of entitlement. Unless your costing determines different logic with different schemes it is easier just to have one name. If **OSP** functionality is not used then these headings can be used at variable input to enter **Sick Pay** values either as cash amounts or units times a rate. |
| **Period Payment Function** | These headings are attached to the pay period calculation in order produce a final payroll calculation for the specified period. If you are calculating **10%** of an employee's net pay, you attach that to the **Period Payment Function** heading. The function would take the net pay in the period, multiply by **01**, and that function will be attached to the payment heading so then that would just happen automatically. It does not have to be re entered each month. |
| **Post Specific Payments** | These are additions that can be added to **Posts** so that anyone occupying this post will derive this addition. Any standard values are held at the post level and depending on the periodicity of the payroll the correct standard periodic value should be completed. Again the **FTE** functionality can be used. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064128.png)In the following example on a monthly payroll the rate of 125 will be multiplied by the unit value of 1.75 and then this will be multiplied by the FTE of the employee in this post. An example of where this could be used is London Waiting that is attached to all relevant posts. ![Edit_Post.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064129.png) ![Gill_cota.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064130.png) |
| **Salary Sacrifice** | These headings are **Benefit Scheme** addition heading for childcare, cycle to work, pensions etc. **Salary Sacrifice** is a negative payment that would go through on the payroll and is calculated before tax and national insurance. |
| **Spine Point Additions** | These headings are payroll entries that are specific to a spine point. |
| **Spine Point Salary (via Grade)** | Pays you via your grade level. Your **Spine Point** table is a list of salary values. The **Grade** table would say which **From** and **To** range is for a specific grade. These headings are used as a **Grade** payment on a **Grade History** form) or if it is used via the **Post**. They are both used the same way. > [!NOTE] > **Note: Spine Point Salary (via Grade)** headings are not available if the **Spine Point Salary (via Post)** category is set up at implementation. |
| **Spine Point Salary (via Post)** | These headings are used in relation to **Pay Spines**, which are set up independently. You must have an adjustment heading set up before you set up a **Spinal Column Table** so that the default heading can be used. You can select the heading from the **Pay Salaries Using Heading** drop-down list. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** This heading can be overridden in the employee's **Post History** using the **Spine Point Salary Paid As** drop-down list. > [!NOTE] > **Note: Spine Point Salary (via Post)** headings are not available if the **Spine Point Salary (via Grade)** category is set up at implementation. |

### **Buttons**

Use the following buttons to perform various tasks.

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| New | Click this button to create a new **Addition Heading**. |
| Open | Click this button to open an existing **Addition Heading**. |
| Delete | Click this button to delete an **Addition Heading**. |
| Report | Click this button to create an **Addition Headings Report**. |

## About the New Addition Heading Form

The **New Addition Heading** form appears once you have clicked the **New** button in the **Addition Headings** window. ![New_Addition_Heading.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064131.png)

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Name** | Enter a unique name to identify the **Addition Heading**. You can also specify an **Import Code** against a heading if you want to import units and values from spreadsheets using codes rather than the payment(Addition) heading name. |
| **Reporting Group** | - Select the **Reporting Group** that you want to show in this heading. These groups are created in Payroll > Payroll Setup > Adjustments > Reporting Groups. |
| **Category** | - Select the category as described in the **About the Addition Headings window** section above. |
| **Addition Type** | **Monetary Amount** This **Addition Type** is the amount that you enter. e.g. £100. **Units Times Rates** This **Addition Type** is the number of units an employee has worked multiplied by a particular rate. e.g. 10 hours of over time at £10/hr. |

## What are the money amount details?

One you have selected the **Monetary Amount** as the **Addition Type** in the **New Addition Heading** form, the **Category** window appears. This is where you set the details of the **Payment** that will be used to calculate the payroll.

### Main Settings tab

![AD_hoc_payment.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064132.png)

### General

This is where you can expand on the **Addition Heading's** name.

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Addition Name** | The **Additions Heading**'s name is automatically entered. |
| **Description** | Describe the **Heading** for your own internal purposes |

### Amounts

If applicable, this is where you can choose if the **Addition Heading** has standard values, is derived from a conditional function or is the value entered at employee level.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** The **Amounts** section does not apply to categories such as **Ad Hoc**, **Mileage Claims**, **Occupational Sick Payments**, **Post Specific Payments**, **Salary Sacrifice**, **Spine Point in Salary (via Grade)**, **Spine Point Salary (via Post)**.

- **Specify standard values** Standard values can be specified as **Annual Values** or **Periodic Values** where you specify each periodicity, not an individual employee. When the rate changes, you change this once on the heading.
- **Amounts specified Annually** **Annual Values** are pro-rated by the periodicity and the **FTE** (as default). Once selected, click on the **Annual Values** button. You are then asked to enter a **From** and **To** date and the **Annual Amount**.

![Amount_values.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064133.png)
- **Amounts specified by Periodicity** Periodic values allow you to specify exactly by period how much is to be added and this will be then pro-rated by the **FTE** (as default). Once selected, click on the **Period Values** button. You are then asked to enter a **From** and **To** date and the **Annual Amount**.

![Standard_Period.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064134.png)
- **Amounts specified per employee** This is where you enter the amount for an individual employee not a period. When the rate changes, the amount must also be changed for every employee on the **Payment** form.
- **Amounts derived by Function** This amount is derived by a function that the user has created. If you are using a conditional function this is described in **How Do I Create a Conditional Function?**
- **Amounts derived by secondary function** The secondary function relies on information from the first function to derive the rate for this addition heading.
- **Use to evaluate final result**

### Payment

By fault, the **Addition** will be **Payable**, **Taxable**, **NIable**, pro-rated, subject to **FTE** and printed on the payslip. You can alter any of these defaults in the existing **Addition Headings** or create a new **Addition Heading**.

- **Addition is Paid** Check this to pay the **Amount**. Unchecked is used when you want to use a notional pay for e.g. **Pensions**, to calculate fictitious pay. If you say **Unpaid**, you are going to get the amount going through your pay slip to boost your pension contribution. You are not actually getting that amount. It is an unpaid payment.
- **Addition is NIable** The **Addition** is subject to employee national insurance contributions.
- **Addition is Employer Niable** The **Addition** is subject to employee national insurance contributions.
- **Addition is Taxable** The **Addition** is subject to **Tax**.
- **Addition is Arrestable Earnings for AOE purpose** Is this going to be included in the amount to make sure you are over the limit to pay e.g. **Council Tax**, or checking to see you are not above any protected earnings.

### Other tab

![Add_other_tab.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064135.png)

### General

- **Addition can be pro rata'd** If you were a mid month starter and you were getting a salary, select this option so that amount can be **Pro rata'd**. It will be **Pro rata'd** by your start date or your leave date.
- **Addition is subject to FTE** If you have a **Full Time Equivalent** salary on an employee's payments and rates form and they only have a **.5** contract, do you want to pay **.5** of the salary if it is subject to **FTE**. Points are the contracts that you are working except **1:1** = **Full Time**. Salary and Car allowance is subject to **FTE**.
- **Addition is paid in Holiday Weeks** Used for **Weekly** payroll. e.g. If you were paying First Aid allowance £2.50/week. If you are on holiday, is that paid during your holiday weeks.
- **Addition increases pay for National Minimum Wage calculation** To check that you've been paid above **National Minimum** wage.
- **Addition is Overtime** Related to **LGPS** and **Teachers Pension**. You don't have to pay overtime if **Addition is Overtime** is checked.
- **Gender Pay Gap Classification** Whether the payment heading is Ordinary pay or Bonus pay or nothing. When you do your Gender Pay Gap calculation extract, the Ordinary and Bonus pay is analysed. You need to select a heading if the payment falls into one of those categories.

### Import

- **Import Code** When you import your ad hoc data, you can use payment codes instead of payment headings. eg Instead of saying overtime at time and a half, you could say it is code 100.

### Costing

- **Costing Category** Is set up in Accounting > Cost Categories. You can attach a **Payment Heading** to a **Cost Category** in **Accounting**, or if you are creating a new heading, you can attach a **Cost Category** here.

### Payslip

- **Addition is printed on Payslip** Check this option to print the **Addition** heading on the payslips.
- **Priority Display Order on Payslip Print** Enter the order in which the **Addition** heading is displayed on the payslip.

### Pension

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Is Qualifying Earnings for Auto Enrolment Assessment** | Check this option to confirm the **Qualifying Earnings** are for **Auto Enrolment**. |
| **Trivial Commutation Type** | You can select which type of small pension you would like to convert into a one-off cash payment. |
| **Flexible Pension Payment** | Check this option to make voluntary contributions to acquire, or improve, secondary benefits such as ambulance transportation, blood, drugs and medical supplies like bandages expenses etc. |
| **Death Benefit Drawdown** | Check this option if the **Death Benefit** is going to be reinvested into a **Drawdown** pension fund to give a regular pension income instead given as a lump sum. |

### Connect Cubes Mapping

- **Connect Cubes Map (Amount)** Select the **Connect Cubes** map, which will export the payment amounts attached to your **Addition Heading**.
- **Connect Cubes Map (Units)** Select the **Connect Cubes** map, which will export the payment units attached to your **Addition Heading**.

### Timesheets

- **Linked Attendance Category** You can attach an **Attendance Category** to the **Addition Heading** that is linked to a **Timesheet**.

## What are the unit and rates details?

One you have selected the **Units Times Rates** as the **Addition Type** in the **New Addition Heading** form, the **Category** window appears. This is where you set the details of the **Payment** that will be used to calculate the payroll.

### Main Settings tab

![x_rates_main.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064136.png)

### General

This is where you can expand on the **Addition Heading's** name.

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Addition Name** | The **Addition Heading's** name is automatically entered. |
| **Description** | Describe the **Addition Heading** for your own internal purposes. |
| **Unit Name** |  |

### Units and Rates

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Units are Ad Hoc** | Select this option to process the units as ad hoc. |
| **Specified Standard values** | Standard values can be specified as **Annual Values** or **Periodic Values** where you specify each periodicity, not an individual employee. When the rate changes, you change this once on the heading. |
| **Rates derived by Conditional Function** | This rate is derived by a function that the user has created. If you are using a conditional function this is described in**How Do I Create a Conditional Function?** |
| **Condition Function** | Select the **Conditional Function**. |
| **Values specified per employee** |  |

### Payment

By fault, the **Addition** will be **Payable**, **Taxable**, **NIable**, pro-rated, subject to **FTE** and printed on the payslip. You can alter any of these defaults in the existing **Addition Headings** or create a new **Addition Heading**.

| Name | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Addition is Paid** | Check this to pay the **Amount**. Unchecked is used when you want to use a notional pay for e.g. **Pensions**, to calculate fictitious pay. If you say **Unpaid**, you are going to get the amount going through your pay slip to boost your pension contribution. You are not actually getting that amount. It is an unpaid payment. |
| **Addition is NIable** | The **Addition** is subject to employee national insurance contributions. |
| **Addition is Employer Niable** | The **Addition** is subject to employee national insurance contributions. |
| **Addition is Taxable** | The **Addition** is subject to **Tax**. |
| **Addition is Arrestable Earnings for AOE purpose** | Is this going to be included in the amount to make sure you are over the limit to pay e.g. **Council Tax**, or checking to see you are not above any protected earnings. |

### Other tab

![Other_tab.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/204001064137.png)

- **Addition is paid in Holiday Weeks** Used for **Weekly** payroll. e.g. If you were paying First Aid allowance £2.50/week. If you are on holiday, is that paid during your holiday weeks.
- **Addition increases pay for National Minimum Wage calculation** To check that you've been paid above **National Minimum** wage.
- **Addition is Overtime** Related to **LGPS** and **Teachers Pension**. You don't have to pay overtime if **Addition is Overtime** is checked.
- **Addition counts towards GPG weekly hours**
- **Addition check against minimum wage level** You can check whether an employee is paid an hourly rate lower than the statutory minimum wage by setting the desired **Units & Rates** addition heading to check for minimum wage levels. If you calculate someone and depending on their age, they happen to have a rate on their payslip for that addition heading that is below their legal minimum, an exception is generated.
- **Gender Pay Gap Classification** Whether the payment heading is **Ordinary** pay or **Bonus** pay or nothing. When you do your **Gender Pay Gap** calculation extract, the **Ordinary** and **Bonus** pay is analysed. You need to select a heading if the payment falls into one of those categories.

### Holiday Pay

- **Calculate a [rate type] from average pay history.**

### Import

- **Import Code** When you import your ad hoc data, you can use payment codes instead of payment headings. e.g. Instead of saying overtime at time and a half, you could say it is code 100.

### Costing

- **Costing Category** Is set up in Accounting > Cost Categories. You can attach a **Payment Heading** to a **Cost Category** in **Accounting**, or if you are creating a new heading, you can attach a **Cost Category** here.

### Payslip

- **Addition is printed on Payslip** Check this option to print the **Addition** heading on the payslips.
- **Priority Display Order on Payslip Print** Enter the order in which the **Addition** heading is displayed on the payslip.

### Working Time Directive

- **Include Hours in Working Time Directive (WTD) calculations**

### Pension - Auto Enrolment

- **Is Qualifying Earnings for Auto Enrolment Assessment**

### Connect Cubes Mapping

- **Connect Cubes Map (Amount)** Select the **Connect Cubes** map, which will export the payment amounts attached to your **Addition Heading**.
- **Connect Cubes Map (Units)** Select the **Connect Cubes** map, which will export the payment units attached to your **Addition Heading**.

### Timesheets

- **Linked Attendance Category** You can attach an **Attendance Category** to the **Addition Heading** that is linked to a **Timesheet**.