Finalisation requires a current backend preview, no blocking calculation conditions, a valid calculation-input hash, and an authorised user. A passed close-by deadline makes a run overdue but does not by itself prevent finalisation.

What this means

In Step 3 of 4, “Review & Finalise”, the app may show “Preview blocked by backend readiness checks”, “Payroll finalisation is unavailable”, or the disabled button “Finalisation requires payroll authority”. A draft estimate is not enough to lock a run.

Common causes

  • The preview has not been run, failed, or is stale after an input change.
  • The payroll setup action center contains employee, organisation, transaction, pack, exchange-rate, or other blockers.
  • The finalisation capability is unavailable in the local runtime or backend.
  • The current user is read-only, an auditor, or lacks payroll authority.
  • A required exchange rate is missing, stale, or outside the active pack policy.
  • The payroll review screen has no reviewed calculation-input hash or the run is not linked to its preparation draft.

How to fix it

  1. Return to the selected draft and confirm organisation, schedule occurrence, close-by date, and separately sourced statutory effective date.
  2. Resolve every card in “Payroll setup action center”. Follow its screen or control link; common destinations include Employees, My Organisation, Transactions, Time Off Policies, and Statutory Packs. Use Compliance for Rules and detached Tax Preview.
  3. Repair employee compensation and statutory calculation blockers. Handle bank details as export-specific readiness if a bank file is requested.
  4. Use Add and manage pay-run exchange rates to resolve required pairs, date or rate-type mismatches, and conflicting quotes. Confirm the rates were saved and payroll review succeeds.
  5. Select “Preview payroll” and wait until backend results are available. Review totals, employee outcomes, statutory pack, and output evidence.
  6. If you are using Review payroll, check that the desired action is displayed and that the run has a reviewed calculation-input hash.
  7. Select “Finalise payroll” only when enabled, confirm the organisation and dates, and retain the resulting reference.

What to check before continuing

The preview state should be ready, the finalise capability should be available, and the finalisation button should no longer be disabled. After confirmation, the status must change to “Finalised” and the footer must state that the payroll is read-only.

How to prevent it

Complete the preparation checklist, save before previewing, use a pack and exchange rates valid for the statutory effective date, and resolve calculation blockers. An approved status or old preview is not current finalisation authorisation.

Still stuck

Record the blocker code/message, run ID, organisation, schedule period, close-by date, statutory effective date, app version, and preview state. Do not alter generated statutory results. Provide selected diagnostics through the support process.

Related guideFinalise payrollRelated guidePayroll preparation checklistRelated guidePayroll preparation unavailable