UNIT 7: ESTABLISH PAYROLL REQUIREMENTS AND PAYROLL PREPARATION
Key unit competence: To be able to prepare payroll according to
organizational policy
Introductory activity
Case study:
Ineza company is located at Gisenyi sector, Rubavu district, western province.
The core value of Ineza is to provide better services to its customers and
achieving its goals. INEZA company is in competition with different local
companies. INEZA company is encountering challenges of paying staff
salaries on time, secondly complains on discrepancies of wrong computation,
wrong deduction, missing allowances are often raised by staff. This is due to
lack of qualified and competent accountant. In other words INEZA company
has a challenge of performing those issues.
From the passage above answer the following questions:
1. What is the name of document required to prepare for the above case study?
2. Give the difference between salary and wage.
7.1. Employment contract
Activity 7.1
Analyze the photos below and answer the questions that follow.
Q1. After defining the term “contract” differentiates the object from the
purpose.
7.1.1. Definition of employment contract
Employment contract is an agreement between an employer and an employee
whereby an employee undertakes to work under the authority of the employer in
return for remuneration.
7.1.2. Terms used
a) Employee
A person having agreed to work for an employer under a contract concluded
between them, and in return for remuneration.
b) Employer
An individual, a public or private entity that employs one or more employees on
a permanent or temporary basis.
c) Probation period
The probation period cannot exceed three (3) months.
However, after the written evaluation of the employee’s performance has been
notified to the employee, the employer can for valid reasons related to the nature
of work, employee’s performance and conduct, decides that an employee
retakes the probation for a period not exceeding three (3) months.
If the probation period comes to an end and proves to be conclusive, the
employee is immediately offered employment and notified in writing by the
employer.
d) Salary
A fixed regular payment, typically paid on a monthly basis but often expressed
as an annual sum, made by an employer to an employee.
e) Wage
A fixed regular payment earned for work or services, typically paid on a daily or
weekly basis.
7.1.3. Types of employment contract
a) Permanent employment contact
Permanent employment contracts apply to employees who work regular hours
and are paid a salary or hourly rate. The contracts are ongoing until terminated
by either the employer or employee and may be for full or part time work.
Employees on these contracts are entitled to the full range of statutory
employment rights.
b) Fixed-term contracts
Fixed-term contracts give a set end date, for example six months or one year.
c) Casual employment contracts
The casual employment contract is suitable for scenarios where you want an
individual to commit to working for you, but you’re not sure how many hours of
work you’ll be able to offer him/her each week and cannot guarantee a regular
working pattern. The contract should specify the minimum number of hours that
you expect them to work each week, with the expectation being that the working
pattern and hours offered above this minimum, is likely to fluctuate.
7.1.4. The details of employment contract
It must contain the following particulars or details:
• The names of employee and employer;
• The date on which the employment began;
• The date on which the employee’s period of continuous employment
began, taking into account any previous employment is to count as
continuous employment
• The scale or rate of pay and the method of calculation;
• The intervals at which payment is made;
• Any terms and conditions relating to holiday entitlement;
• The end of notice which either party needs to give notice to end an
employment;
• The job title of the employee, or a brief description of his duties;
• Where the employment is not intended to be permanent, the period for
which it is expected to continue, or if it is a fixed term, the date at which
the term is expected to end;• The place of work;
Application activity 7.1
Q1. Explain the different types of an employment contract.Q.2. Talk about the duration of a probation period
7.2. Valid contract requirements and general working conditions
Activity 7.2
Analyse the Photo above and answer the questions that follow.
Q1. Describe different parties to a valid contract.Q2. Outline the obligations of employer.
7.2.1. Valid contract requirements
a) Parties to a valid contract
Parties of contract are persons who can sign the contract. For a contract to be
considered valid, it should include three parties. These are; Offeror who makes
an offer, Offeree to whom an offer is made and Witness who sees an eventhappening.
b) Elements of a valid contract
For a contract to be valid and therefore enforceable by law, it must have thefollowing elements:
• Intention to be bound by the contract: the two parties should have
intended that their agreement be legal. Domestic agreements between
husband and wife are not taken as valid.
• Offer and acceptance: there must be an offer and the two parties
must lawfully come to acceptance leading to a valid contract. Until an
offer is accepted, it’s not a valid contract.
• Consideration/price: this is the price agreed upon by the parties to
the contract and paid by one party for the benefit received or promise
of the other parties.
• Capacity of the parties: the parties to the contract must have
contractual capacity for the contract to be valid, i.e. should be sober,
above 18 years, not bankrupt, not insane, and properly registered.
• Free Consent: parties to the contract must agree freely without any of
the parties being forced to accept or enter the contract.
• Legality/lawful object: the object and the consideration of the
contract must be legal and not contrary to the law and public policy.
• Possibility of performance: if the contract is impossible to be
executed in itself either physically or legally, then such contract is not
valid and cannot be enforced by law.
• Certainty: the terms of the contract must be clear and understandable
for a contract to be valid. If the terms are vague or ambiguous, where
even the court may not be able to tell what the parties agreed, then itwill be declared invalid.
1. Rights and Obligations of employee
a) Rights of an employee
The rights of an employee include the following:
• To work in an environment where health and safety in the workplace are
guaranteed;
• To be provided leave as provided for by Law;
• To join a trade union of his/her choice;
• To receive equal salary for works of equal value without discrimination
of any kind;
• To be trained by his/her employer;
• To receive information relevant to his/her work.b) Obligations of an employee
An employee has the following main obligations:
• To personally carry out his/her work or service on time and achieve
performance;
• To respect the employer’s or his/her representative’s instructions;
• To abstain from an act that would threaten his/her security and that of
his/her colleagues or that of his/her workplace;
• To keep in good conditions tools given to him/her by the employer;
• To report at work on time;• To protect the interests of the work.
2. Rights and Obligations of employer
a) Rights of employer
Subject to collective convention, rules of procedure or employment contract,
the rights of an employer are the following:
• To recruit an employee;
• To give the employee instructions related to work;
• To evaluate the performance of an employee, promote, transfer, impose
disciplinary sanctions and terminate the employment contract of the
employee;
• To modify, extend or cease activities.
b) Obligations of an employer
Subject to collective convention, rules of procedure or employment contract,
the employer has the following main duties:
• To provide an employee with an employment contract and its copy
• To give the employee the agreed work at the time and place as agreed upon;
• To supervise the employee and ensure that the work is done in suitable
working conditions, as far as security and health in the workplace are
concerned;
• To pay the employee the agreed salary on time;
• To avoid whatever can hamper the company’s life and safety, its
employees and the environment
• To affiliate and contribute for an employee to the social security organ
in Rwanda;
• To discuss with the employees or their representatives on matters
relating to work;
• To provide employees with professional training and continue upgrading
their capacity;
• To provide an employee with working equipment;
• To notify the labour inspector work-related accident or death of an employee
3. Disciplinary sanctions
Subject to the favorable provisions of collective conventions, rules of procedure
or employment contract and depending on the severity of the misconduct, the
disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed on the employee are the following:
• oral warning;
• written reprimand;
• temporary suspension not exceeding eight (8) working days without pay;
• dismissal
4. Working hours
The maximum working hours are forty-five (45) hours a week. However, an
employee can work extra hours upon the agreement with his/her employer.
The daily timetable for work hours and break for an employee is determined by
the employer. The daily rest granted by the employer to the employee is not
counted as work hours.
An Order of the Minister in charge of labour determines modalities for theimplementation of working hours a week.
Application activity 7.2
Q1. What are five obligations of each party under employment contract?Q2. Discuss about Working hours according to the labor law.
7.3. Leaves
Activity 7.3
Analyze the Photos above and answer the following question: talk about types of leave.
7.3.1. Definition of leave
Referring to human resource, leave is simply taking an off from work
day after informing the management formally and sometimes even
informally. Leaves are the days that every working professional is entitled to
and paid for, apart from the holidays. Paid leaves are a part of benefits offeredby companies apart from medical claim.
What is example of leave?
Leave is defined as permission, or is time off from work. When you are given
permission to attend a party, this is an example of when you are given leave
to attend. When you take two months off work to care for your new baby, this isan example of maternity leave.
7.3.2 Types of leaves
a) Annual leave
A public servant is entitled to an annual leave of one month that may be split into
three portions maximum. However, a newly recruited public servant is entitled toan annual leave after twelve months including the probationary period.
b) Incidental leave
An immediate supervisor grants incidental leave to a public servant in case of
fortunate or unfortunate event that occurs in his/her family as follows:
• Two (2) working days in case of his or her civil marriage;
• Four (4) working days in case of delivery of his wife;
• Seven (7) working days in case of death of his or her spouse;
• Five (5) working days in case of death of his or her child or adoptive child;
• Four (4) working days in case of death of his or her father, mother,
father-in law or mother-in-law;
• Four (4) working days in case of death of his or her brother or sister;
• Three (3) working days in case of death of grandfather or grandmother;
• Three (3) working days in case of his or her transfer over a distance of
more than thirty (30) kilometers from his or her usual place of work.
A public servant on incidental leave continues to receive his or her salary andfringe benefits.
c) Maternity leave benefits
A female employee who has given birth is entitled to a maternity leave of at least
twelve (12) consecutive weeks.
d) Coincidence of leaves
When annual leave coincides with incidental leave or maternity leave, the annual
leave is suspended and resumes after the incidental leave or maternity leave.
e) Sick Leave
• Short-term sick leave
An immediate supervisor grants to a public servant a short-term sick leave not
exceeding one (1) month for reasons of sickness ascertained by a recognized
medical doctor.
• Long-term sick leave
The head of an institution grants to a public servant a long-term sick leave
exceeding one 1month but not exceeding six (6) months basing on the decision
of a committee of at least three (3) medical doctors, which examines a medical
report issued by a medical doctor who treated the public servant, attesting thathe or she is unable to work.
f) Authorized absence
For justified reasons, an immediate supervisor may grant to a public servant a
written authorized absence from work for one (1) day maximum not deductedfrom annual leave.
However, the immediate supervisor does not grant an authorized absence for
more than ten (10) days per year.
g) Official public holidays
A Presidential Order determines official public holidays.
Examples:
– Jan 01: new year day
– Feb 01: heroes’ day
– Apr 07: Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day
– May 01: workers day
– Jul 01: Independence Day
– July 04: liberation day– Dec 25: Christmas day
Application activity 7.3
Q1. State four incidental leavesQ2. List two official public holidays
7.4. Payroll process
Activity 7.4
Analyze the photos above and answer the following questions:
Q1. What is a payroll?Q2. State two documents required to produce payroll.
7.4.1. Definition of payroll
Payroll is a list of all employees showing the details of their gross wage,
deductions and net wages due to them .it is also known as wage sheet.
In a company, payroll is the sum of all financial records of salaries for an
employee, wages, bonuses and deductions.
In accounting, payroll refers to the amount paid to employees for services they
provided during certain period of time. Therefore, for proper accountability, the
employer gives the employee an individual monthly pay slip which details the
basic salary, other various allowances and bonuses, withholdings and the netsalary on employee’s request.
7.4.2. Relevant documents required to produce payroll
1. Clock cards: these show the number of hours worked by each employee.
One clock card is allocated to each employee for each pay period. IN
and OUT times are recorded on clock cards to determine total hours
worked including overtime hours so that remuneration payable to each
employee can be computed.
2. Piece tickets: these provide information regarding the number of items
produced by each worker. They are used for workers who are paid
according to the work completed.3. Employee’s personal cards: they provide information regarding wage rates.
7.4.3. Importance of preparing payroll on time
• It helps to pay employees on time
• Reduces conflicts between workers and employers• It increases employees’ motivation
Application activity 7.4Q1. What are the importance of preparing payroll on time?
7.5. Payroll system and Elements of payrollActivity 7.5
Case study: In any entity, payroll is very important document for measuring
the amount paid to each employee. Besides, it shows the amount to be
paid to the different agencies like RSSB, RRA.. Thus, the human resource
management unit is supposed to create and control personnel records for the
success of organization’s operations. The effective management of personnel
records enables organizations to manage their employees effectively and
efficiently, to initiate informed decision making, to encourage transparency
and accountability and to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of staffperformance.
All operations in relation to human resource management, from preparation
of pay slips to strategic planning, ultimately depend on reliable and accurate
personnel records. The management needs to understand the special
characteristics of personnel records, the legal framework for human resource
management and the effect of changing technology on the nature andstructure of personnel records.
Reference made to the above case study, answer the following questions:
1) Outline any 4 parts included in payroll program2) State Payroll system
7.5.1. Payroll system
• Manual payroll system means that accounting systems allow you to
process all your normal payroll tasks by hand.
Advantages of manual payroll system
• Relatively cheaper since you only need to use either the old-fashioned
books or use programs like excel.
• Independence from network and electricity
• Doesn’t require high knowledge compared to the computerized payrollsystem
Disadvantages of manual payroll system
• Becomes more difficult as the number of employees grows
• More tedious to prepare
• Does not allow real time reporting and analytics
• Human error can be a major inconvenience since an individual carries
out all timesheets, taxes, wages and other processes
• Errors can also be harder to track and might result in various business
penalties
• Errors can be also cause employees to be under / over paid
Computerized payroll accounting systems allow you to process all your normalpayroll tasks via a computerized system using a software.
Advantages of a computerized payroll system
Avoids most common human errors by implementing a system which requires
present data and automatic calculations.
• Payroll computation tends to be more accurate.
• Payroll can be done on a timely basis.
• It is easier to maintain.
• It is easier to track and correct errors.
• Number of employees being processed will no longer be a problem.
Disadvantages of a computerized payroll system
• more expensive compared to manual payroll systems.
• Needs standard computer setup in order to operate it well with certain
prerequisites.• Needs an initial training for those who will maintain the payroll system.
7.5.2. Elements of payroll
a) Serial number
In payroll records there is a serial number which shows the unique number used
for identification of employees.
b) Name of employee
In payroll records there are also the names of persons having agreed to work
for an employer under a contract concluded between them, and in return forremuneration
c) Account number
An account number is a unique number which show the employee’s owner’s
account.d) Basic salary
Basic salary is an amount of money paid to an employee for the work performed,which does not include any allowance
e) Allowances
Any monetary benefit offered by the employer to employees so as to facilitate
them to perform well. Among allowances we can list for illustration the following
examples:
• Transport benefit in Kind: if the employee benefits from use of a motor
vehicle provided by the employer during the tax period, add back 10%
of the taxable income in FRW, excluding other benefits in kind.
• Housing benefit in Kind: if the employee benefits from accommodation
provided by the employer during the tax period, add back 20% of the
taxable income in FRW, excluding other benefits in kind.
• Communication allowances. Etc…
f) Gross salary
Gross salary is the amount of money employees receive before any tax deduction
or taken out.
g) Deductions
Deductions are money that the employer withholds to contribute to certain
agencies like RRA, RSSB, especially from the gross salary. E.g. :
• Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
• RSSB employee contribution
• Contribution to maternity leave
• Etc…• Pay As You Earn calculation
What are the tax rates for ‘permanent’ employees?
There are different marginal tax rates for permanent employees depending
upon their taxable employment income. The groupings of income are called taxbrackets. The tax rates for each tax bracket are as follows:
Tax rate
What are the tax rates for ‘casual labourers’?
Similarly, there are different marginal tax rates for casual employees depending
upon their taxable employment income. The groupings of income are called taxbrackets. The tax rates for each tax bracket are as follows:
Tax rate
What are the tax rates for ‘employees with more than one employer’?
The first employer declares the employee as a ‘permanent employee’ as normal.
Any additional employers must withhold PAYE at the rate of 30% on all taxable income.
Practical example: Dr DUSHIME is a lecturer in University of Rwanda where
he is paid a monthly basic salary of FRW600,000, housing allowances of FRW
75,000, transport allowances FRW75,000, responsibility allowances FRW200,000 as a coordinator of evening program in his faculty.
This one is also a teacher at University of Kigali (UoK) on part time basis and
gets the monthly gross salary of FRW 260,000
Required: Calculate the PAYE
Solution: PAYE withheld by UR: Gross salary: FRW 600,000 + FRW 75,000
+ FRW 75,000 + FRW 200,000 = FRW 950,000
From FRW 0 to FRW 30,000: 0% = FRW 30,000 x 0% = FRW 0
From FRW30, 001 to FRW 100,000: 20 % = (FRW 100,000 – FRW 30,000)
x 20% =FRW14,000
From FRW 100,001 to FRW 950,000: 30 %= (FRW 950,000 –FRW 100,000)
x 30% = FRW 255,000
FRW 0 + FRW 14,000 + FRW 255,000 = FRW 269,000
PAYE withheld by UoK: FRW 260, 000 x 30% = FRW 78,000
• Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) elements
What are the rates of the pension scheme?
The pension scheme totals a rate of 8%. This is made up of 3% withheld from the
employee and 5% paid by the employer including payments to the occupational
hazards scheme. This is charged on all employment income except for transport
allowances and transport benefits in kind
Therefore, the pension base is equal to:
Pension base = basic salary + benefit in kind house + benefit in kind others +
cash allowance house + cash allowance others.
What are the rates of the Maternity leave scheme?
The Maternity Leave scheme totals a rate of 0.6%. This is made up of 0.3%
withheld from the employee and 0.3% paid by the employer. This is charged on
all employment income except for transport allowances and transport benefits
in kind. Therefore, the pension base is equal to:
Pension base = basic salary + benefit in kind house + benefit in kind others +
cash allowance house + cash allowance others.
What are the rates of the Medical Scheme?
The Medical Scheme totals a rate of 15%. This is made up of 7.5% withheld
from the employee and 7.5% paid by the employer. This is charged on the
‘Basic Salary’.
a) Net salary
The net salary refers to the amount of money employees receive after all
deductions?
b) Community-based health insurance (CBHI)
This order has introduced a statutory deduction of 0.5% from every employee’s
net salary as a contribution to the community-based health insurance scheme.
Employers are to remit these contributions to the Rwanda Social Security Board
(RSSB) on or before the 15th of the following month.
Application activity 7.5
Q1Amahoro employs Innocent and pays him a basic salary of FRW 57,000
and a cash allowance of FRW 2,000 for transport and FRW 3,000 for airtime
related to calls on behalf of the business. Calculate RSSB contributions for
pension and maternity leave.
Q2. Discuss about allowances and state 4 examples of allowances?
Q3. Write in full words the following abbreviation used in payroll preparation
a) P.A.Y.E
b) R.S.S.B
7.6. Salary computation and the payment methods of payroll
Activity 7.6Case study
The major problem is delay of salaries, which is caused by computations that
are manually done. These computations are also prone to errors. The whole
process is tiresome and takes long. All this can be solved by automating the
system. After identifying the problems in the underlying system, an automated
computerized system was developed, to curb the loopholes in the manual
payroll system. This system is speedy in the calculations of the net salaries
and no errors in the salaries. It also stores the payroll information very well.
Most computer payroll system keeps track of details like computer payroll
numbers, tax identification numbers, district code, department or institution,
country, bank code, name of employee, paying code, title of employee, run
date, date of payment, gross pay. P.A.Y.E., RSSB contribution, basic pay,
salary scale among other things.
After the accounts clerk has deposited the employee’s cheques in their banks
and given pay slips by the bank, they need to record the payments made
in the system for decision making purposes and generation of monthly and
annual reports. Analyze the case study above and referring to the last lesson,
answer the following questions.
Q1. State RSSB contribution rates you know according to the Rwandan law
Q2. Outline three payment methods
Q3. Explain any five payroll functions.7.6.1. Salary computation and the payment methods of payroll
1. Salary computationA. Calculation of gross salary
Gross salary is the amount of money employees receive before any tax deduction.
Gross salary = Basic salary + accommodation allowance + transport allowance
+ communication allowances+ any other allowance
B. Calculation of deduction
• For PAYE, Rwanda labour law should be enforced by applying Personal
Income Tax (PIT) formula with consideration that PAYE is reported on
monthly basis while adhering to the three tax bands:
Example: Calculate an annually professional tax of an employee who earns
the monthly basic salary of FRW 141,000, housing allowances FRW 19,000,
communication allowances of FRW 6,000, transport allowances FRW 12,000
Answer:
Data:– Monthly income: FRW 141,000
– Housing allowances: FRW 19,000
– Communication allowances: FRW 6,000
– Transport allowance: FRW 12,000
– Gross Salary: 141,000 + 19,000 + 6,000 + 12,000 = FRW178,00
– Annual tax computation:Annual professional tax: FRW 37,400 x 12 = FRW448,800
• For Rwanda Social Security board (RSSB), the following should be
considered:
What are the rates of the Pension Scheme?
The Pension Scheme totals a rate of 8%. This is made up of 3% withheld from the
employee and 5% paid by the employer including payments to the occupational
hazards scheme. This is charged on all employment income except for transport
allowances and transport benefits in kind
Therefore, the Pension Base is equal to:
Pension base = Basic salary + Benefit in kind House + Benefit in kind others +
Cash Allowance house + Cash allowance others.
What are the rates of the maternity leave scheme?
The Maternity Leave scheme totals a rate of 0.6%. This is made up of 0.3%
withheld from the employee and 0.3% paid by the employer. This is charged on
all employment income except for transport allowances and transport benefits
in kind. Therefore, the pension base is equal to: Pension base = Basic salary +
Benefit in kind House + Benefit in kind others + Cash Allowance house + Cash
allowance others
What are the rates of the medical scheme?
The medical scheme totals a rate of 15%. This is made up of 7.5% withheld
from the employee and 7.5% paid by the employer. This is charged on the
‘Basic salary’.
A. Calculation of net salary
Net salary= Gross salary - Deductions
Format of payroll
Company names:….. Pay period:…………Company address:…….. Bank names:………
PAYROLL
Prepared by:…………….. Verified by:…………..….. Approved by:…………
7.6.2. The payment methods of payroll:
1. Cash payment
Cash payment is a form of liquid funds given by the employer to different
institutions entitle to any professional contribution payment like PAYE to RRAand different RSSB contributions through RRA.
2. Mobile money
In this case the employer pays taxes and RSSB contributions using Telephone
Mobile Money.
3. Cheque
A cheque is a written order from an account holder (the bank current account
holder) addressed to his bank to pay a stated sum of amount to the order of an
announced person or its bearer. A cheque is a document of payment in which
the holder of an account orders to his bank to pay a certain amount to a payee.
4. Electronic transfer
Include a transfer made between an individual’s varies accounts or from one
individual account to a corporation account
Application activity 7.6Q1. Write in full the following abbreviation: a) RSSB
b) PAYE
c) RRA
Q2. Mugisha is entrepreneur. Her small business is located in HUYE District.
She employs one employee called Munezero. At the end of every month,
she pays him a basic salary of FRW 35,000, a transport allowance of FRW
5,000, and a housing allowance of FRW 8,000. As a student of senior four
accounting, calculate:
a) The gross salary paid by Mugisha to Munezero at the end of the month
b) The net salary received by Munezero after paying compulsory deductions
(PAYE, Pension, and Maternity leave only).
Q3. Explain a payroll and its details.
Skills Lab 7
After a visit of resource person (accountant of school), students write a
note on the following:
• Payroll process
• Preparation of payroll
• Payment methods of payroll prepared
End of unit assessment 7
Q1. Yusufu Kagina is a technician at Fit Metal Industries Limited, receiving
a monthly salary of FRW 500,000. He is also allowed a car and an
accommodation by the company. How much will be deducted as PAYE
from Yusufu’s salary?
Q2. MRK ltd company is a small sole trade business of purchasing and
selling computers. It is located in Jenda sector, Nyabihu District, WesternProvince (Tel +250788888888-722222222; P.O Box 1123 Gisenyi).
MRK Ltd company Shop is well known for its services in Society and
this attracts clients. Now days MRK Ltd company Shop is facing serious
problems related to the use of manual accounting, lack of tool which helps
to analyze the challenge of performing an effective payroll system.
Besides all staff being accommodated and transported by the company,the following information has been provide:
As a qualified accountant, you are requested to assist the Company to
Prepare payroll according to Rwandan law for the month of June 2021. Thepayment is made through GJ Bank.