Payroll FAQs – Your Guide to Common Payroll Questions
Tax Card & Withholding Tax
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Tax Card & Withholding Tax
Many of Silta's clients use the Tax Administration’s Vero API, an interface service that allows us to access valid tax cards in OmaVero. For these clients, tax cards do not need to be submitted to Silta.
However, source cards are excluded from the Vero API, so these still need to be sent to Silta.
Please check with your supervisor or HR department regarding the specific procedures agreed upon with your employer. -
Why has 60% withholding tax been applied?
If your employer uses the Vero API interface and you don’t have an active tax card for salary income in OmaVero, your employer will withhold 60% tax from your salary.
If your employer doesn’t use the Vero API service and you haven’t submitted a tax card to payroll, they will withhold a 60% tax rate from your salary. Please be mindful of document submission deadlines for providing your tax card. The tax card must be ready in OmaVero by the payroll processing date to be applied to that specific pay period.
Any excess withholding tax can be adjusted by ordering a revised tax card from the Tax Administration. Employers cannot refund withheld taxes that were based on the tax card or its absence. -
How can I order a new tax card and submit it to payroll?
You can order a tax card from the Tax Administration. A revised tax card can be created on the website https://www.vero.fi/MyTax. If your employer uses the Tax Administration’s Vero API service, there’s no need to submit the revised tax card to payroll.
If your employer does not use the Vero API service, the revised tax card, a copy, a clear photo, or a scan must be submitted to payroll. If sending the tax card via email, we recommend using your work email address. The tax card must be received by Silta by the payroll processing date to be applied to that pay period.
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Can I adjust my tax rate without a revised tax card?
You can increase your basic tax rate by notifying payroll via email or by creating a new tax card in OmaVero. However, if you want to lower your tax rate or adjust your income threshold, you will need a revised tax card. If your employer doesn’t use the Vero API service, you must submit the revised tax card, a copy, or a clear photo or scan to payroll.
Keep in mind that your income threshold may still be reached even if you raise your tax rate. Once this threshold is reached, withholding will automatically apply at the additional rate on your tax card. If you expect your earnings to exceed this threshold, the only way to avoid the additional withholding rate is by ordering a revised tax card.
PAYSLIP AND HOW TO READ IT
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Where can I find my payslip?
Check with your supervisor to confirm your employer’s specific process. If your employer uses Simo, the Silta Mobile app, you’ll receive your payslip directly in the app on your phone. Depending on your employer’s setup, your payslip may also be delivered as an e-salary to your online bank or sent by mail.
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What information should I find on my payslip?
The payslip must clearly outline the employee's earnings for the pay period. It should show the total pay amount and its calculation basis, including hours worked, hourly wage, and any additional pay such as evening or night shift bonuses, along with the qualifying hours for these bonuses. Additionally, the payslip includes the following information:
- Employee’s name, job title, and date of birth
- Employer’s name and location of the workplaceEmployment start date and, if applicable, end date
- Taxable income accrued from the previous calendar year, the current calendar year, and the most recent pay period
- Withholding tax applied during the latest pay period
- Bonuses for shift or seasonal work for the latest pay period
- Any holiday pay and holiday compensation paid alongside regular wages.
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What mandatory deductions are withheld from my salary besides withholding tax?
In addition to withholding tax or source tax, the following statutory deductions, known as side costs, are subtracted from gross salary:
- Pension contribution (TyEL or another pension scheme)
- Unemployment insurance contribution (TVR or TVM contribution)
The payslip also displays the daily allowance contribution, which is included in the employee's withholding tax percentage.
Deduction rates change annually according to legislation, and the amount of side costs varies by age group.
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How do I get a salary certificate or proof of income?
The employer reports payroll information to the Incomes Register. If the data users do not receive all the necessary information from the Incomes Register, a salary certificate from payroll can be provided as a supplement.
Please note that a payslip often serves as a sufficient salary certificate. You can easily forward your payslip as a PDF through Simo, the Silta Mobile app.
You can request a salary certificate from payroll via email. Please specify the purpose for which the certificate is needed, as different data users may have varying requirements for payroll information. -
What should I do if there is an error on my payslip?
If you believe there is an error in your payroll or incorrect information on your payslip, please reach out to your supervisor or employer, or to Silta’s payroll service, following your employer’s guidelines. In many cases, corrections need to be made in the employer’s systems first, after which the employer will submit a correction request to Silta’s payroll team.
Leave & Absences
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What does the holiday accrual year mean?
The holiday accrual year runs from April 1 to March 31. Annual leave is accrued based on holiday legislation, at a rate of either 2 or 2.5 days per calendar month, depending on the length of employment. Accrual rates may also be affected by collective agreements, local agreements, or individual employment contracts.
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Why have I accrued fewer than 30 days of leave?
Has your employment been continuous throughout the entire holiday accrual year? Have you had absences from work due to parental leave, illness, study leave, or layoff? According to holiday legislation, not all types of absences accrue annual leave. Additionally, to earn annual leave in a given month, you must have either 14 working days or equivalent qualifying days or, if you work part-time, 35 working hours. If this accrual requirement isn’t met, annual leave will not be earned for that month.
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How is my holiday pay determined?
According to the general provision of the Annual Holidays Act, employees are entitled to receive at least their regular or average salary during their holiday period (Annual Holidays Act, Section 9). However, various regulations impact the calculation of holiday pay. You can check your sector’s collective agreement to see how holiday pay is calculated. In addition to the collective agreement, factors such as the type of pay structure, fluctuations in working hours, and pay also affect holiday pay calculation.
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When will my holiday bonus be paid?
Holiday bonuses are paid solely by collective labor agreements or local agreements. The timing of the holiday bonus payment depends on these agreements or company-specific practices. In many collective agreements, the holiday bonus is only paid if the employee takes their holiday and returns to work afterward.
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What should I do if there is an error in the number of leave days?
If you suspect there is an error in your payroll or incorrect information on your payslip, please contact your supervisor/employer or Silta’s payroll service, following your employer's guidelines. Often, corrections need to be made in the employer’s systems first, after which the employer submits a correction request to Silta’s payroll team.
Payroll
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When will my salary or bonuses be paid?
Payroll dates and periods vary by company, so please contact your employer for specific details.
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Why is my paycheck different from my usual amount?
If your paycheck is different from the usual amount, several factors could be the cause:
- Tax Withholding Changes: Updates to tax rates or changes in your withholding allowances can affect your net pay.
- Unpaid Time Off: Any unpaid time off, whether due to leave without pay, unpaid sick days, or unapproved absences, will lower your total earnings.
- Bonuses or Overtime: If you worked overtime or received a bonus, your paycheck could be higher. Conversely, fewer hours worked or the absence of bonuses could result in a lower paycheck.
- Tax or Wage Garnishments: Court-ordered garnishments or other deductions could be impacting your take-home pay.
- Payroll Errors: Occasionally, payroll errors or delayed data entry can lead to discrepancies. If you suspect this, contact your HR
Review your payslip for details on deductions and earnings, and reach out to your supervisor or HR if something seems unclear or unexpected.
- Tax Withholding Changes: Updates to tax rates or changes in your withholding allowances can affect your net pay.
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What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before deductions, including base salary, overtime, bonuses, and other allowances. It represents the amount an employer has agreed to pay for your work.
Net pay, also known as "take-home pay," is the amount you receive after all deductions. These deductions include taxes, retirement contributions, health insurance, and other benefits.
In short:
- Gross Pay = Total earnings before deductions
- Net Pay = Take-home amount after deductions
Your payslip typically shows both amounts, so you can see the impact of each deduction on your final pay.
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How do I update my bank account information?
To ensure a smooth update to your bank account details, please reach out to your supervisor or your company’s designated payroll contact person. They will provide you with the necessary steps and any specific instructions required by your organization.
Our customer service switchboard assists with payroll matters.
Switchboard number:
020 759 5500
8,35 c/call + 16,69 c/min
For questions related specifically to your payroll, the best assistance is available through your dedicated customer service number. If you have misplaced the number, our switchboard can help.