Payroll Compliance Services for Employers
Professional Accounting & Advisory
Service at a Glance
Personalized scope & lodgementWage earners, investment property owners, CGT, crypto & standard returns
100% online video meetings (Outlook Calendar) or in-person
Direct electronic ATO portal lodgement by Registered Tax Agent
Draft explained and authorized by you before electronic submission
- Pre-lodgement draft walkthrough & written client sign-off
- Extended ATO tax agent lodgement deadlines available
- Transparent upfront quoting & zero lodgement without approval
What do payroll compliance services involve?
A payroll compliance review looks at whether the payroll information being processed and reported is consistent, supported by records and aligned with the employer's tax and payroll obligations. The exact scope depends on the business, workforce, software and issues identified.
For employers covered by the Fair Work system, prescribed employee records must be kept and compliant pay slips must be provided. Employee records generally need to be kept for seven years. Separately, employers may have ATO obligations for PAYG withholding, STP reporting, superannuation and activity statements. State or territory payroll tax may also apply depending on the wage bill and jurisdiction.
Financially Up can review the accounting and payroll data that supports these obligations. Where an issue depends on award interpretation, employment contracts or another workplace-relations question, legal or specialist workplace advice may be required in addition to payroll accounting support.
7-Year Record Keeping
Under Australian Fair Work legislation and tax law, employers must maintain complete, accurate payroll records for a minimum of 7 years. Our reviews inspect data integrity across pay history, leave balances, and superannuation remittances.
Who may need a payroll compliance review?
Payroll compliance services can be useful for small and growing employers as well as established businesses with more complex payroll arrangements. A review may be particularly useful when:
Workforce Expansion
Employee numbers or payroll complexity have increased.
Software Migration
Payroll has moved between software platforms or providers.
Unexplained Discrepancies
There are unexplained differences between payroll reports, the general ledger or bank payments.
STP & Historical Adjustments
STP corrections or prior-period payroll adjustments are required.
Unreconciled Clearing Accounts
PAYG withholding, super or payroll tax accounts do not reconcile cleanly.
Category & Leave Concerns
The business has concerns about pay categories, allowances, deductions or leave balances.
Proactive Independent Reviews
Management wants an independent payroll process review before year end or another major change.
Key areas covered in payroll compliance
A reliable payroll system requires alignment across multiple legislative frameworks, from Fair Work record-keeping rules to ATO reporting and state revenue offices.
Payroll records and pay slips
Good payroll compliance starts with reliable records. Employee pay details, hours where required, leave, deductions, super information and other payroll data should be recorded in a way that supports both payroll processing and later review. Pay slips must contain prescribed information and generally need to be provided within one working day of pay day.
PAYG withholding and activity statements
Employers who withhold amounts from payments need to report and pay those amounts to the ATO in accordance with their reporting cycle. Payroll settings, withholding calculations and activity statement figures should therefore be capable of being reconciled.
If the issue is primarily about activity statement preparation or lodgement, Financially Up's BAS, GST & Payroll service provides the broader compliance context.
Single Touch Payroll
STP reports payroll information to the ATO from payroll-enabled software. Payroll changes, corrections and year-end finalization can affect what employees see in their income statements.
Businesses that need dedicated STP support can also refer to our Single Touch Payroll service.
Superannuation and Payday Super
From 1 July 2026, Payday Super changes the timing and administration of employer super guarantee contributions. Super guarantee is calculated on qualifying earnings for each payday, and employers generally need to ensure the contribution is received by the employee's super fund within seven business days of payday, subject to applicable exceptions or extended timeframes. Payroll systems and payment processes therefore need to work together more closely than under the former quarterly model.
For businesses that want help with the operational side of contributions, our Super Processing service focuses on contribution processing and related administration.
Payroll tax and jurisdiction-specific obligations
Payroll tax is administered by state and territory revenue authorities, not the ATO. Registration thresholds, rates, grouping rules and taxable wage definitions vary by jurisdiction. A payroll compliance review can help identify whether the payroll data needed for a payroll tax assessment is available and consistent, but the exact liability depends on the relevant state or territory rules.
For this specific area, see our Payroll Tax service.
Payroll audit services versus a practical compliance review
Businesses sometimes search for payroll audit services when what they need is a detailed payroll compliance review. Financially Up can examine payroll records, reconciliations and reporting processes within an agreed accounting and tax scope.
This should not be confused with a statutory audit, legal opinion or workplace investigation unless those services are separately required and provided by an appropriately qualified professional.
What information may be needed?
To perform an effective payroll health check, we assess your underlying software records and financial ledgers against actual cash disbursements and ATO reporting data.
The exact documents depend on the review. Sensitive employee information should be handled only to the extent necessary for the agreed work.
Typical Documentation Checklist:
- recent payroll reports and employee payroll setup information
- STP and PAYG withholding records
- super contribution and payment records
- general-ledger payroll, PAYG and super accounts
- bank records supporting wage and super payments
- relevant payroll adjustments or prior correspondence
How Financially Up can help
Financially Up can provide payroll compliance services that connect payroll processing with bookkeeping, accounting and tax reporting. This is particularly useful where a business wants payroll figures to reconcile cleanly into its accounts rather than treating payroll as a separate administrative system.
Support may include payroll compliance review, reconciliations, identification of data issues, assistance with corrections, and coordination with the business's regular payroll and tax processes. Routine payroll processing is available through our Payroll Services page where the need is ongoing pay-run support rather than a compliance-focused review.
Tax advice, legal advice, award interpretation and specialist employment matters are separately scoped where relevant.
Payroll Compliance Reviews
Detailed examination of payroll records, software configurations, and employee setups.
Multi-System Reconciliations
Reconciling payroll figures against general ledgers, bank transactions, and ATO portals.
Data Issue Identification
Pinpointing discrepancies in tax scales, allowance categories, deductions, or super rates.
Correction Assistance
Assisting with payroll adjustments, STP out-of-cycle filings, and activity statement amendments.
Why choose Financially Up?
Financially Up Pty Ltd is a registered tax agent with more than 10 years of experience. Our professional team includes CPA and IPA members and supports businesses across Australia. Appointments are available online and in person, making it easier to review payroll issues with the relevant reports and records available.
Registered Tax Agent
Financially Up Pty Ltd has over 10 years of experience supporting Australian employers with rigorous payroll compliance.
CPA & IPA Qualified Team
Our professional accountants include members of CPA Australia and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).
Australia-Wide Accessibility
Flexible client support across Australia with online video consultations and in-person meetings at our North Sydney office.
Integrated Accounting Focus
We look at payroll from an accounting perspective, reconciling payroll journals directly to bank disbursements and ATO activity statements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Payroll Compliance
Find fast answers to common questions about our individual tax lodgements, deductions, and CPA services.
Identifying eligible deductions is crucial for minimizing your taxable income and maximizing your tax savings. Our team at Financially Upwill diligently explore all potential deductions applicable to your situation. From commonly claimed deductions to often overlooked ones, we leave no stone unturned in helping you claim every deduction you're entitled to.