---
title: "How do I perform a payroll calculation?"
slug: "how-do-i-perform-a-payroll-calculation"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:18:41Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:18:41Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/how-do-i-perform-a-payroll-calculation"
---

> ## 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 perform a payroll calculation?

At any point in your processing cycle, you can perform a **Gross to Net** calculation on the entire payroll, or on individual employees.

## **Performing the calculation**

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Only changes listed in the **Pending Changes** section of the Payroll will be implemented in a calculation. If you want ALL changes to be included, you should use the [Force Calc](/iq/docs/how-do-i-perform-a-payroll-calculation) option.

### For an entire payroll

1. In Cintra iQ, go to **Payroll Tools** > **Payroll Calculation**.
2. Select the **Payroll** option, then choose which payroll you wish to calculate.
  - A list of pending changes and the associated employee will be displayed. Double-click any change to view more information.
3. Click **Calculate**.
  - This may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the payroll.
  - If any exceptions occur, you can view/print the report. You can also view any [payroll exception report](/iq/docs/how-do-i-rerun-the-payroll-calculation-exception-report) at any point.
4. The list of pending changes will then be cleared.

### For an individual employee

1. In Cintra iQ, go to **Payroll Tools** > **Payroll Calculation**.
2. Select the **Payroll** option, then select **Individual**.
3. Either select an **individual** from the drop-down list, or select an employment record in the **Navigator** area.
  - A list of pending changes for that employee will be displayed. Double-click any change to view more information.
4. The list of pending changes will then be cleared.

You can also perform the calculation (including forcing the calculation) from an employee's payslip. See

## Force / recalculating a payroll

When you calculate the payroll (either for an individual or an entire payroll), there is an option to **force calculate** the payroll.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/_TD3JI7QFvg_qKvWgLA8mQ_1poUFMvtFVA.png)

**Force calculation** ensures that ALL changes - not just those listed in the **Pending changes** section - will be used in the calculation. Selecting **Force Calc** ensures these updates are recalculated from scratch, but can mean validation issues are ignored.

To perform a force calculation, follow the steps below for either a payroll or employee, tick the **Force Calc** option, then click **Calculate**.

If you recalculate the payroll which has an unauthorised payment run, the following message will appear:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/fc2cda72-4645-4b36-96bf-60439ec11f11/Images/Documentation/LnH3uzECLz7IYp_QH_lz9EVDoUJwsMRHng.png)

For more information, see [How do I create/re-run payment runs?](/iq/docs/how-do-i-create-re-run-payment-runs)