Is There an Extra Pay Period in 2026?
In 2026, bi-weekly payrolls have 27 pay periods instead of the usual 26. It happens about once every 11 years when the calendar math just doesn’t divide evenly. If you heard about this back in January, great. You planned for it.
If this is the first you’re hearing about it — you’re in good company. And you still have time to sort it out before it causes a real headache.
Where things stand right now
You’re roughly halfway through the year. Depending on how your payroll was set up in January, you may already be slightly overpaying salaried employees, pulling extra benefit deductions, or accruing more PTO than budgeted. Or everything’s fine. The point is — you should know which one.
What to check today
First, count your remaining pay dates in 2026. If you land on 27 total, the extra period is real for you. If you’re on 26, you’re in the clear.
Second, look at how salaried employees are being paid. Are checks being calculated as annual salary divided by 26? If so, that 27th paycheck will overpay them by one extra period. Some businesses are fine with that. Some aren’t. Either way — decide intentionally.
Third, check your benefits deductions. Health insurance, 401(k), HSA — if those are flat per-paycheck amounts built around 26 periods, the 27th will pull an extra deduction employees aren’t expecting. That’s a conversation you want to have before it happens, not after.
Fourth, look at your PTO accrual rate. If PTO accrues per pay period, employees are on pace to earn slightly more than usual this year. Small number — real liability.
What your options are
For salaried employees, you’ve got three paths:
- Keep checks the same size and absorb the slight overpay for the year — simple, employees never notice.
- Adjust the remaining checks to stay on annual budget — a small reduction, worth communicating to employees first.
- Or treat it as a one-time bonus pay period and document it as such.
No option is wrong. The wrong move is running that 27th payroll without deciding. Your friendly APlus CSS is here to walk you through it, should you need help.
For benefits, the fix is usually straightforward — a conversation with your benefits administrator and a one-time adjustment in your system. This is exactly the kind of thing that falls through the cracks at companies without a dedicated payroll person. And exactly the kind of thing a good payroll partner catches before it becomes a problem.
This blog does not constitute formal Payroll, HR or legal advice. Please contact us here. Consultation is friendly and free!