Record and certify PAYE opening migration

Opening migration records earlier same-employer payroll processed outside Paydae for the employee and tax year. Its coverage and totals can support the opening position used by the PAYE calculation. It is separate from selecting and confirming the annual PAYE method. Follow the screen’s coverage assessment to determine whether evidence is required; the screen can mark it optional for Non-FDS.

Before you begin

Gather the original payroll register or report, its service dates, taxable income, PAYE before AIDS levy, AIDS levy, and closing credit balances. Verify the employee, employer, tax year, payroll currency, and last day covered. Do not include prior-employer remuneration or PAYE as this employer’s opening balance.

Steps

1. Review the coverage and current authority

   Open the employee’s Annual PAYE decision screen and inspect Opening migration, Current opening position, and Payroll coverage. Check whether a certified record or saved draft already exists, where the coverage gaps are, and whether finalised payroll has locked the opening evidence.

2. Choose the source format

   Open the migration totals editor. Select Cumulative for a source summary through one inclusive Opening cutoff, or By period for dated service rows. For period rows, choose Period amounts or YTD snapshots to match the source report. The covered-through date is derived from the rows in the period format.

3. Enter the totals and credits

   Enter taxable income, PAYE before AIDS levy, and AIDS levy in the shown payroll currency. For period rows, enter each service range and its values; the app calculates total PAYE from PAYE and levy. Complete the closing credit entitlement, credits available, and medical credit in USD as requested by the editor.

4. Record the source and reason

   Enter the Source document and the reason the totals are being recorded or corrected. Add an approval reference if used by your organisation. Confirm that the figures match the same-employer records. Resolve any coverage or validation issue shown on the screen.

5. Save, then certify

   Select Save draft to retain work without making it certified authority. Review Required to certify and select Certify revision only when every requirement and the server coverage assessment are satisfied. Recheck the certified cutoff, totals, source, and recorded activity.

   Expected result: A certified opening position and its evidence appear on the screen.

Revisions and locked history

A saved draft does not replace the current certified opening position until certification. The screen can show a certified record alongside a newer draft; compare their revisions before relying on a preview. A draft that became stale after employee history or opening authority changed must be reviewed or discarded and restarted as the message directs. Once finalised payroll has used the opening evidence, it becomes read-only; follow the payroll correction workflow for a change to affected history.

Common problems