10 Ways to Power Up Your Payroll This Summer

In the summer, temperatures go up, and urgent inquiries from clients go down. Making this is the perfect time of year to take a closer look at your current processes and workflows to identify any activities that can be automated or updated. 

By tidying up payroll records and setting up automations during the slower summer months, you’ll have breathing room to implement and test before the year-end rush hits and client requests ramp back up. Whether you’re looking to reduce manual tasks, improve compliance, or simply make payroll less stressful, taking proactive steps now and automating key parts of the process can help you get ahead. 

Not sure where to start? Below is a checklist of 10 powerful actions to save you time, increase accuracy, and keep you and your clients on track.

1. Review & Reconcile Year-to-Date Payroll Data

▢ Confirm all payrolls have been processes accurately 

▢ Reconcile payroll data with accounting software (QBO, Xero)

▢ Cross-check YTD totals (gross pay, taxes, benefits) with client records

2. Automate Recurring Payroll Tasks

▢ Set up auto-run for salaried employees

▢ Sync time-tracking tools for hourly staff

▢ Enable automated CRA remittances and direct deposit

3. Clean Up Employee & Contractor Records

▢ Verify SINs, addresses, and banking details

▢ Confirm employment status (active, terminated, on leave)

▢ Ensure contractor classifications and T4A setting are correct

4. Check CRA Payroll Account Details

▢ Validate business number and CRA account set up

▢ Confirm proper tax province is applied per employee

▢ Review WCB/EHT settings for accuracy 

5. Prepare for ROEs and Year-End Slips

▢ Ensure your payroll solution is set to auto-generate ROEs upon termination

▢ Review settings for T4/T4A form delivery (email vs print)

▢ Identify any missing or unusual payroll data that could affect year-end slips

6. Set Up Notifications and Reminders

▢ Enable alerts for upcoming pay periods and remittance due dates

▢ Create calendar events for key filing deadlines (T4s, ROEs, EHT)

7. Communicate with Clients Proactively

▢ Send clients a year-end checklist to gather info early 

▢ Flag any compliance concerns (taxable benefits, bonuses, etc.) 

▢ Recommend adding or adjusting automations to save time in Q4 

8. Back Up and Organize Payroll Records

▢ Export payroll reports by employee and pay period

▢ Save copies of remittance summaries and CRA confirmations

▢ Archive year-end documents in client folders

9. Review and Update Vacation & Stat Holiday Settings

▢ Confirm vacation accrual settings are accurate for each employee

▢ Ensure statutory holiday rules align with provincial regulations

10. Test Payroll Scenarios or New Features

▢ Use the summer slowdown to test bonus runs, off-cycle payrolls, or new features

▢ Ensure staff is trained on any new automations or features you implement

Stay Steps Ahead of the Year-End Rush

Getting ahead now means fewer headaches later. By taking these steps over the summer, you’ll be better prepared to handle the year-end rush with confidence. Whether you’re already using Wagepoint or considering a switch, now’s the perfect time to explore how the right solution can simplify your payroll processes and deliver an exceptional experience to your clients. Want to see how it works? Request a quick demo today.

Written by Vanessa Hartung

Vanessa is an experience writer, content creator and speaker. She leads the content marketing team at Wagepoint, collaborating together to ideate and create helpful, informative content on payroll for bookkeepers, accountants, and small business owners.

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