Payroll Overhaul: 9 New Features for Smarter Pay Management

We've completely rebuilt the payroll system in NestedClock. What started as a simple hours-to-pay calculator is now a full payroll review, approval, and export workflow — built specifically for Australian small businesses.

Here's everything that's new.

1. Pay Rules on the Server

Pay rules (overtime thresholds, penalty rates, super, break deductions) are now stored securely on the server instead of in your browser. Every admin sees the same rules, and they survive device switches, browser clears, and new logins.

2. State-Aware Public Holidays

Each shop now has a state/territory setting. The system automatically detects public holidays for that state — including state-specific days like Melbourne Cup (VIC), Reconciliation Day (ACT), and Western Australia Day. Covers 2025–2028 with 85+ holidays across all 8 states and territories.

3. Payroll Run Object + Audit Trail

Every pay period now creates a formal Payroll Run with a clear status flow:

1. Draft — auto-created when you view a week
2. Reviewed — you've checked the timesheets
3. Approved — snapshots all rates, rules, and calculations
4. Exported — you've downloaded the data
5. Released — payslips sent to staff
6. Locked — immutable, no further edits

Every action is logged with who did it and when.

4. Allowances, Deductions & Adjustments

Add per-staff items that flow into payroll calculations:

• Allowances — meal, travel, phone, laundry
• Deductions — uniform, advance repayment
• Reimbursements — petrol, parking (not superable)
• Bonuses — performance, holiday
• Backpay — corrections from previous periods

Each item can be marked as recurring, superable, taxable, and whether to show on payslips.

5. Pre-Payroll Checker + Variance View

Before you approve, the checker flags potential issues:

• Missing clock-outs, shifts over 12 hours, no rate set
• Public holidays worked without PH rate applied
• Pay variance >30% vs last week
• Staff with 0 hours who normally work

The Variance View shows a table of every staff member's pay change vs last week — sorted by biggest change first.

6. Explain This Pay

Every staff member's pay now has a full line-by-line breakdown:

Mon 05/05: 8.0h × $29.50 × 1.0 = $236.00
Sat 10/05: 5.0h × $29.50 × 1.25 = $184.38
Weekly OT: 3.0h × $29.50 × 0.5 = $44.25
Meal allowance: +$15.00
───────────────────
Gross: $479.63
PAYG estimate: -$72.00
Net (est.): $407.63
Super (12%): $57.56

Two views: line-by-line table or category cards with progress bars.

7. PAYG Tax Estimation

Optional toggle that shows estimated PAYG withholding using official ATO 2025-26 Schedule 1 coefficients. Supports both tax-free threshold claimed (primary job) and no tax-free threshold (second job). Clear disclaimer everywhere — this is an estimate, not tax advice.

8. Accounting Exports (Xero, MYOB, Generic)

One-click exports in the format your accountant needs:

• Xero Timesheet CSV — imports directly into Xero payroll
• MYOB Activity Slip — ready for MYOB import
• Generic Accountant Pack — all categories broken out with totals

9. Staff Payslip Disputes + Rate History

Staff can now query their payslips directly from the portal — selecting a category (missing hours, wrong rate, etc.) and adding a note. Admins see queries in the dashboard and respond. Plus, every rate change is now tracked with effective dates, so old payroll runs always use the correct historical rate.

Available Now

All payroll features are available on Professional and Business plans. Accounting exports (Xero/MYOB) are Business only. Start your 14-day free trial to try everything.