Employer and Employees

What is a Payslip, and What Should it Show?

See what a payslip should show, how employees can check pay and deductions, and how employers securely handle the document.

2 min read · Translated from Norwegian. Read the original

Employee checking a secure digital payslip with their employer

A payslip is the employer's specification of the salary that has been calculated and paid out. It allows the employee to check hours, additions, holiday pay basis, tax deductions, and other deductions.

What should the payslip show?

Arbeidstilsynet (the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority) states that the employee must receive a payslip upon payment or immediately afterwards. It must show salary, tax deductions, and any other deductions. In practice, the document should also clearly state the period, the employer, gross pay, the amount paid out, and key pay items.

What should the employee check?

Check the period, employment percentage or hours, overtime and additions, absence, benefits in kind, tax, pension deductions, and account number. Report errors quickly and keep documentation. A payslip does not replace the employment contract but shows how the agreement and registered events have been processed during the current period.

Pay deductions

An employer cannot make arbitrary deductions. Tax deductions and certain agreed or legally mandated deductions have their own basis. Other deductions require that the conditions in the Working Environment Act are met. If in doubt, the employer should check the basis before running payroll.

Data protection and secure delivery

The payslip contains personal and financial information. Use a solution with access control, secure authentication, and appropriate storage. Avoid sending sensitive documents unprotected.

On Proffi

Proffi can help businesses find payroll systems and accountants. The payslip itself and personal data should not be published or linked to a public company profile.

Source

Arbeidstilsynet: Lønn

Frequently asked questions

When should the payslip be provided?: Upon payment of salary or immediately afterwards, according to Arbeidstilsynet (the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority).
Is a payslip the same as an annual statement?: No. A payslip covers one pay period, while annual summaries cover an entire year.
What should I do if the payslip is incorrect?: Contact the employer or payroll manager quickly and document the discrepancy.