How do I delete or stop pay items in bulk?

This article explains how to delete one-time pay items and stop recurring pay items in bulk by uploading a CSV file, instead of removing them one by one from each employee's profile.

The bulk uploader lets you action several pay items at once. You can:

• Delete one-time pay items — remove pay items that apply to a single payroll period.
• Stop recurring pay items — end pay items that repeat across periods.

This article covers:

• How to delete or stop pay items in bulk
• How to resolve duplicate records
• Frequently asked questions

Before you start

The same lifecycle rules that apply to individual pay items also apply here. You cannot delete or stop a pay item that is:

• Past the payroll cutoff
• Already paid
• Already processed

💡 If a pay item code in your file is not part of the pay item catalog for the selected legal entity, that row returns an error. You can re-pull the latest codes using Show pay codes or Download pay codes to correct it.

How to delete or stop pay items in bulk

1. In the left navigation, go to Payroll runs. Select Add or delete payroll data in the top right, then choose Bulk delete payroll items.
   
2. Select the legal entity you want to action pay items for.
3. Download the template CSV.
4. Fill in the template:
   • To delete a one-time pay item, complete the employee identifier, pay item type, effective date, and amount.
   • To stop a recurring pay item, complete the same columns and add the occurrence (for example, monthly or semi-monthly).
5. Upload your completed CSV file and select Continue.
6. The system processes the file and lists the pay items it identified, showing whether each one is one-time or recurring. Review the list and select Continue.
   
7. Confirm the number of pay items to action, then confirm the deletion.

The summary screen shows how many pay items were successfully deleted or stopped.

💡 Example: You upload a file with six pay items for your Singapore entity. The uploader identifies four one-time items and two recurring items. After you confirm, the four one-time items are deleted and the two recurring items are stopped.

How to resolve duplicate records

A delete row identifies a pay item by the combination of employee identifier, pay item type, and effective date. If more than one record in the system matches that combination, you choose which ones to remove.

1. Upload your file as described above.
2. If the system finds more than one matching record, the row is flagged with a Resolve button.
3. Select Resolve. A pop-up lists every matching record for that pay item.
4. Select the records you want to delete and confirm.
   
5. The selected records are added to the deletion table. Any records you do not select remain in the system.
6. Review the deletion table and submit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between deleting and stopping a pay item?

Deleting removes a one-time pay item that applies to a single payroll period. Stopping ends a recurring pay item so it no longer repeats in future periods.

Do I have to action my pay items one by one?

No. You can delete or stop several pay items at once by uploading a single CSV file, rather than removing them individually from each employee's profile.

What happens if the system finds duplicate records when I try to delete a pay item?

The row is flagged with a Resolve button. When you open it, you see every matching record and choose which ones to delete. Records you do not select remain in the system.

Which pay items cannot be deleted or stopped?

You cannot delete or stop a pay item that is past the payroll cutoff, already paid, or already processed.

What if a pay item code in my file is not recognized?

That row returns an error. Use Show pay codes or Download pay codes to get the latest valid codes for the legal entity, correct your file, and upload again.