/ Articles /
Accounting
/

Payroll Bookkeeping Ireland: Employer Basics Guide

Jun 3, 2026
5
Min Read
Who should read this?

Irish employers managing staff payroll who need to keep accurate books that link payslips, bank payments and Revenue submissions without year-end surprises.

Readers will learn how to build a repeatable routine of posting journals, reconciling control accounts and maintaining clean trails from each pay run through to final accounts.

Key Takeaways

  • Record the full payroll journal showing gross pay, employer costs and all liabilities, not just the net bank payment.
  • Reconcile payroll control accounts monthly to catch small differences before they become year-end issues.
  • Post each pay run and match payments to Revenue and pension providers before the next run.
  • Record employer pension contributions separately from employee deductions, including My Future Fund auto-enrolment from 2026.
  • Prepare a full reconciliation pack including ROS summaries and pension statements for year-end accounts.
About the Author:
Connect:

Paul Burke is a qualified ACA and CTA tax accountant in Ireland.He trained at Forvis Mazars in Galway, gaining experience in various tax heads including Income Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT, Payroll and Tax Advisory.He is now a Tax Consultant in a local tax firm.

More
Accounting
Articles:

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a payroll journal include?

A typical payroll journal debits gross wages and employer PRSI to expense, credits PAYE, USC, PRSI payable, pension payable and net wages payable.

Why do payroll control accounts matter?

They show amounts owed after processing but before payment and highlight timing differences or errors with Revenue statements.

How should employer pension contributions be recorded?

Record them separately as company cost creating a payable until paid to the provider, distinct from employee deductions.

What should you check at payroll year end?

Confirm all control accounts are nil or explained, match reports to Revenue and providers, clear old balances and verify payroll expense.

Explore our other topics