{"id":17557,"date":"2023-02-09T16:12:42","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T14:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/?p=17557"},"modified":"2026-02-25T12:59:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:59:50","slug":"arrears-in-payroll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/arrears-in-payroll\/","title":{"rendered":"Arrears in Payroll: What Does It Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As a business owner, you need to take care of <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-tasks\/expense-tracking\/\" target=\"_blank\">expenses<\/a> of various kinds. And, while dealing with different business expenses, you\u2019ve probably heard about the term \u201carrears in payroll\u201d from your accountant \u2014 but you weren\u2019t sure what it meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, if you compensate your employees for the hours worked <strong>after<\/strong> the due date for that compensation has passed, that\u2019s <em>arrears in payroll<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help you better understand arrears in payroll, we created a short guide to explain not only this term but also some other expressions such as \u201cpaying in advance\u201d and \u201cpaying in current\u201d \u2014 so stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog post, we\u2019ll also cover the following topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What does arrears mean in payroll,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The difference between payroll in arrears and current and advance payments,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An example of paying in arrears,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The advantages and disadvantages of paying employees in arrears, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequently asked questions about arrears and arrears in payroll.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, let\u2019s start.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Arrears-in-payroll-cover.jpg\" alt=\"Arrears in payroll - cover\" class=\"wp-image-17598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Arrears-in-payroll-cover.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Arrears-in-payroll-cover-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Arrears-in-payroll-cover-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-does-arrears-mean-in-payroll\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does arrears mean in payroll?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re running payroll for last week instead of the current week, that\u2019s considered payroll in arrears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, your employees are not paid at the end of the set pay period, that is, at the end of their <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/4-day-work-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">workweek<\/a>, but they\u2019ll have to wait a few days after the pay period ends to get their pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most businesses compensate employees this way because it\u2019s easier for them to calculate total wages for the current pay period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from the hours worked, while calculating payment, an employer also has to take into account other factors, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All the taxes that need to be paid,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paid time off (<a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-teams\/pto-vs-vacation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PTO<\/a>),&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sick leave,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tips,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commissions, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-teams\/overtime-without-pay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Overtime<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also compensate your employees in other ways, so let\u2019s see the differences between paying in arrears, paying in current, and paying in advance in the following paragraph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help with keeping track of your employees\u2019 time off, here are some free PTO templates you can use to ensure that your time off system runs smoothly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/pto-templates\" target=\"_blank\">PTO Policy Templates<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"payroll-in-arrears-vs-current-vs-advance-what-are-the-differences\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Payroll in arrears vs. current vs. advance: What are the differences?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As we already mentioned, <strong>paying in arrears<\/strong> means that you, for example, run payroll for last week instead of the current week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you pay your employees <strong>in current<\/strong>, on the other hand, you pay them the day the set pay period ends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paying in current can be a bit tricky for employers because they need to calculate the estimated number of hours the <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/employee-cost\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/employee-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">employee<\/a> will work during that pay period. Calculating the estimated <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/calculating-payroll-hours-worked\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/calculating-payroll-hours-worked\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">number of hours worked<\/a> means that the employer will have to guess how many hours the employee will work, which may differ from the actual hours worked.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if an employee\u2019s workweek is from Monday to Sunday, and the end of their pay period is on Friday, to pay them that same day, the employer would have to calculate hours earlier (for Saturday and Sunday) and guess how many hours worked there will be in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Paying in advance <\/strong>would be the complete opposite of paying in arrears. When an employer pays the employee in advance, it means that the employee is paid ahead of the normal pay schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, an employee can take something called <em>salary advance<\/em>. This term refers to the situation where the employer can give their employee a percentage of their <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/salary-vs-hourly-employment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">salary<\/a> before their usual payday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This way, the employee receives their payment before the usual pay period ends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you need a free tool to help you with accounting tasks such as handling and processing payroll and taxes? To choose the right accounting software for your business, take a look at the blog post below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/apps-tools\/best-accounting-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\">15 best free accounting software tools<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-an-example-of-paying-in-arrears\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an example of paying in arrears?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To explain paying in arrears in more detail, let\u2019s take a look at the example of this payment method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say John works at the coffee shop and he works his usual 8 a.m.\u20135 p.m. shift on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, but he decides to take a day off on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sunday would be the day the workweek ends, so his employer usually calculates John\u2019s wages on the same day. This time, his employer also includes paid time off in their calculation (in this example, the day off is Friday).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, John doesn\u2019t get paid right away. He gets paid five days after the end of the previous workweek, that is, he receives his payment the following Friday. In other words, John is paid in arrears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re wondering why John wasn\u2019t paid right away, we\u2019ll explain it in a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paying in arrears is more convenient for John\u2019s employer, since they can take some time to consider factors such as paid time off before doing the final pay calculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever wondered which tools you can use to keep track of your team\u2019s vacation and other types of leave? Check out our blog post on this subject, and find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/how-to-track-team-vacations-and-time-off\/\" target=\"_blank\">How to track your team\u2019s time off<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-advantages-of-paying-employees-in-arrears\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the advantages of paying employees in arrears?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several notable advantages of paying employees in arrears, so let\u2019s learn more about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"advantage-1-paying-in-arrears-helps-employers-include-all-the-factors\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantage #1: Paying in arrears helps employers include all the factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Paying employees in arrears gives employers more time to calculate all the factors, such as overtime, paid time off, or commissions, before issuing payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out more about this topic, we\u2019ve reached out to Wendy Ha, the Founder, Principal Consultant, and Advisor at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agilecpa.ca\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.agilecpa.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AgileCPA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wendy is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) with over 10 years of experience as a finance and accounting leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her professional opinion, paying employees in arrears allows for more time to accurately calculate variable pay (i.e., commissions):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Wendy Ha\" class=\"wp-image-17563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1.jpeg 353w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cFor example, say a technology salesperson closed a deal on Jan 13th and the person is generally entitled to a 10% commission. If the payment is in the following week, the finance team can take their time to calculate and obtain all the necessary approvals to release the commission.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"advantage-2-paying-in-arrears-reduces-inaccuracies\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantage #2: Paying in arrears reduces inaccuracies&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If we compare it to paying in current where the employer may record the employee\u2019s hours while they are still working, paying in arrears provides enough time to <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/payroll-hours-tracker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">track<\/a> and calculate the hours more precisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Wendy, there are certain instances where employers have to pay their employees in arrears:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Wendy Ha\" class=\"wp-image-17563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1.jpeg 353w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cIf the employers have hourly employees and want to pay by direct deposit, they have to pay in arrears. For example, say at a retail clothing company, it is impossible to pay hourly employees for Jan 14th if the pay date is the same day. The retail store wouldn\u2019t know how many hours they\u2019ve worked that day. Also, the company won\u2019t be able to direct deposit the funds because typically, the final payroll amounts have to be submitted the day before.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"advantage-3-paying-in-arrears-helps-businesses-with-their-cash-flow\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantage #3: Paying in arrears helps businesses with their cash flow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies often pay in arrears because it gives them time to be more flexible with their cash flows. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.british-business-bank.co.uk\/business-guidance\/guidance-articles\/finance\/what-is-cash-flow-how-do-you-manage-it\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">British Business Bank<\/a>, \u201ccash flow is a measurement of the amount of cash that comes into and out of your business in a particular period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, let\u2019s see how Wendy explains this advantage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Wendy Ha\" class=\"wp-image-17563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1.jpeg 353w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wendy-Ha-1-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201c<em>Delaying the payment can help the business with cash flow. Since service is rendered by the employees, the company might receive payment from their clients already. Delaying the payroll by 1 or 2 weeks will help with cash flow, especially if the company has other financial obligations they need to make.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-disadvantages-of-paying-employees-in-arrears\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the disadvantages of paying employees in arrears?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to paying employees in arrears, there are also some disadvantages, so let\u2019s see them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"disadvantage-1-paying-in-arrears-leads-to-employees-waiting-for-their-payment\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantage #1: Paying in arrears leads to employees waiting for their payment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019ve just finished a tough week at work, what can certainly lift your spirits is being able to access that hard-earned money right away. Paying in arrears prevents employees from doing so, which is why some employees may find it a less desirable <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/compensation-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">compensation<\/a> option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"disadvantage-2-paying-in-arrears-can-be-a-difficult-change-for-employees-who-got-used-to-being-paid-in-current\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disadvantage #2: Paying in arrears can be a difficult change for employees who got used to being paid in current<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Any transition can be a little difficult for employees, especially when it comes to payroll. If you decide you want to switch to arrears payment, you need to be aware of the potential consequences this may have for your employees. Perhaps your employees have become accustomed to the current payment system, and the transition from paying in current to paying in arrears is not something they anticipated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having to go one or two weeks without pay can affect your employees\u2019 finances. Moreover, to keep a good relationship with your employees but also prevent financial hardships they may encounter, you\u2019ll also probably have to provide them with some type of transition payment (this is a one-time payment in the form of an advance, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark clockify-gradient-features\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-[6rem]\">\n        <span class=\"h4 text-lg translation-block mb-0\">Free time tracker<\/span>\n        <p class=\"translation-block mt-1 mb-3\">Time tracking software used by millions. Clockify by CAKE.com is a time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track work hours across projects.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex gap-4 align-items-center translation-block justify-content-center justify-content-sm-start\">\n            <a class=\"bg-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-gray-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/apps\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-middle \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/features@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/features.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions-about-arrears-and-arrears-in-payroll\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about arrears and arrears in payroll<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to learn more about arrears and arrears in payroll, check out these frequently asked questions we\u2019ve singled out for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"arrears-in-payroll-vs-being-paid-in-arrears-what-is-the-difference\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Arrears in payroll vs. being paid in arrears: what is the difference?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As we\u2019ve already mentioned, arrears in payroll refer to the situation where employees are compensated for the <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/track-hours-worked\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hours worked<\/a> in the previous pay period instead of the current pay period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, what about <em>being paid in arrears<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/advisor\/business\/paid-in-arrears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Forbes<\/a>, being paid in arrears means \u201cto pay for goods or services after the terms have been met or the due date has passed.\u201d For example, if you\u2019re behind on your electricity bill, and your house has already been supplied with electricity, that means your electricity bill is being paid in arrears.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a small business owner, and you want to learn how you can manage the payroll process more easily, take a look at the following blog post on payroll management:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/tracking-time\/how-to-manage-payroll-for-small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to manage payroll for your small business<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-does-arrears-mean-in-accounting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does arrears mean in accounting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Arrears in accounting can occur in several cases, and the first case we\u2019ll mention is the case of <strong>being paid in arrears<\/strong> \u2014 for example, when your business pays your vendor in arrears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you own a <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/apps-tools\/restaurant-management-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">restaurant<\/a>, and you purchase your vegetables from a certain vendor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although you have established payment terms with your vendor \u2014 to pay them before January 30th \u2014 you failed to do so. You received your vegetables, but you missed the deadline for payment, so now you\u2019ll have to pay your vendor in arrears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, if you, as a business owner, are behind on payments you owe your vendors, that\u2019s payment in arrears.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vendors can sometimes make you pay a late fee, so keep that in mind when deciding whether paying in arrears is the best option for your business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from paying vendors in arrears, other cases of arrears in accounting can be grouped into 3 types of arrears:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Annuity in arrears<\/strong> \u2014 As Forbes explains, \u201cif the annuity payment is made at the end of a fixed period, rather than at the start, it is referred to as an annuity in arrears.\u201d For example, mortgage payments are considered an annuity in arrears.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Calls in arrears<\/strong> \u2014 Calls in arrears occur in a situation where there are a few shareholders of a company, and one of them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksforgeeks.org\/accountancy\/calls-in-arrear-accounting-entries-with-examples-on-issue-of-shares\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fails to pay the due amount of shares on call<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dividends in arrears<\/strong> \u2014 When a company has dividends in arrears, it means that it failed to issue a dividend payment by the due date to preferred shareholders \u2014 that is, to those shareholders that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investor.gov\/introduction-investing\/investing-basics\/investment-products\/stocks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have priority in contrast to common shareholders<\/a> over a corporation\u2019s profits.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re a CFO for a company or your own small business, bookkeeping is a huge undertaking. To learn more about how you can track time better while doing bookkeeping and ease at least one of your responsibilities, read our blog post below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/tracking-time-while-bookkeeping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tracking time while doing bookkeeping<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-to-reduce-the-risks-of-billing-in-arrears\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to reduce the risks of billing in arrears?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from paying employees in arrears, there\u2019s also something called billing in arrears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you bill in arrears, you <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/how-we-use-clockify\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bill your client<\/a> or customer after you have provided them with services or goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help you reduce the risks of billing in arrears, such as the risk of missing payments, or even prevent certain risks, we\u2019ve listed some handy tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"tip-1-use-invoicing-software-to-keep-track-of-your-invoices\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #1: Use invoicing software to keep track of your invoices<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Using invoicing software helps reduce the risks of billing in arrears because it allows you to keep track of all your invoices in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a matter of fact, the right <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/time-tracking-invoicing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">invoicing software<\/a> gives you a detailed overview of both your paid and overdue invoices.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"778\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Clockify-invoices.png\" alt=\"Clockify invoices\" class=\"wp-image-17560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Clockify-invoices.png 778w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Clockify-invoices-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Clockify-invoices-768x578.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 778px) 100vw, 778px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Managing invoices in Clockify\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In Clockify by <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CAKE.com<\/a>, for example, you can mark invoices as either <em>Sent<\/em> or <em>Unsent<\/em>, and if a due date for a sent invoice passes, the invoice automatically gets <em>Overdue<\/em> status.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use the Reminder email as a friendly note of the invoice that is past due time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of these options can simplify tracking your client\u2019s payments and reduce the risks that sometimes come with being paid in arrears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You did your part of the deal and finished the project within the deadline, but your client hasn\u2019t paid you yet? If you want to learn how you can ask for payment professionally and what email templates you can use for that, check out our blog post below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/business\/ask-for-payment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to ask for payment professionally (+ templates)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"tip-2-conduct-credit-checks-on-potential-clients\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #2: Conduct credit checks on potential clients<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid dealing with unreliable clients, you can conduct credit checks on them to evaluate whether they can pay consistently on time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An employer can check someone\u2019s credit history by looking at their credit report \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/credit-reports#:~:text=Request%20Your%20Free%20Credit%20Report,%2D800%2D821%2D7232.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">credit reports<\/a> list your:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bill payment history,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loans,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Current debt, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other financial information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This way, you reduce the possibility of receiving late or missing payments and putting your business finances at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"conclusion-before-paying-in-arrears-evaluate-whether-this-system-works-for-you\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion: Before paying in arrears, evaluate whether this system works for you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, paying employees a few days after the end of the pay period is a useful practice for employers because they get more time to calculate their employees\u2019 hours worked more accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Employees, on the other hand, may not always be in favor of this payment system. Sometimes they\u2019ll need some time to adjust to being paid later than usual, especially if they\u2019re used to a different payment schedule.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, if you decide to pay your employees in arrears, you need to be aware of both the advantages and disadvantages that this payment method can bring. That way, you can decide if paying in arrears is the best solution for your business or if you should go for another option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, however you decide to pay your employees, try to choose the payment system that\u2019s most convenient for all the parties involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get started with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to learn more about arrears in payroll and what it actually means, read our blog post on this subject.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":17590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17557"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36365,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17557\/revisions\/36365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}