---
title: "How do I move the payroll to the next period?"
slug: "how-do-i-move-the-payroll-to-the-next-period"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:26:21Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:26:21Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/how-do-i-move-the-payroll-to-the-next-period"
---

> ## 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.

# How do I move the payroll to the next period?

Once the payroll process is complete (payroll input has been entered, payroll has been calculated, the **Auto Enrolment** assessment has been carried out, and the payments runs have been sent etc) you need to move the payroll to the next period.

By moving the payroll to the next period all temporary/adhoc payroll input will be empty so only standard/regular payments and deductions will remain. Before moving to the next period, check that the total of the **Payment Runs** made matches the **Total Net Pay** for the payroll. If these figures do not match you won’t be able to roll the period forward.

## To compare totals

1. Navigate to the **Pay Employee** window.
  - Go to **Cintra iQ**: Payroll > Payroll Tools > Paying Out > Pay Employees.
2. Navigate to the **Payments Runs for Payroll Period** pane.
3. Note down the value in the **Amount Status** column and the value in the **Total Period** field located in the **Payment Run Summary** section.
4. Navigate to the **Move to next Payroll Period** form.
  - Go to **Cintra iQ**: Payroll > Payroll Tools > Payroll Period > Move to next Payroll Period
5. Compare the values from the **Pay Employee** window with the **Total Net Pay** and **Total of Payment Runs Made**.

## To move the payroll period forward

1. Click the **Next Period** button on the **Move to next Payroll Period** form. A message appears stating: **Are you sure you want to close off period [name of period] and move to the next period?**
2. Click The **Yes** button. A message appears stating: **This process is not reversible except by restoring from the database backup. Please confirm that you have a current, verified back up of your database?**
3. Click the **Yes** button. You are return to the **Navigator**. Each employee's **Payslip** displays the new period and pay date.

If you have entered data changes after your last payment run has been created, a message is displayed stating that there are outstanding data changes which have not been calculated:

- Click Yes: to include these changes in next period’s payroll run.
- Click No: to include changes in the current period. Calculate the payroll and then create another payment run.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** When you move payroll into the next period, Cintra iQ checks for accounting periods and creates them if needed. This only applies if your accounting groups and financial years are already configured - see [How do I create accounting periods within an accounting year?](/iq/docs/how-do-i-create-accounting-periods-within-an-accounting-year)