Updated November 2026
Your business may be open when the banks are closed. Your payroll calendar needs to account for both.
With Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s approaching, now’s a good time to check pay dates and processing deadlines. A little planning beats a last-minute scramble over direct deposit.
Put these dates on your calendar
Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026
Christmas: Friday, December 25, 2026
New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1, 2027
These are Federal Reserve holidays, which affect the banking schedule used for payroll direct deposits.
When payday falls on a banking holiday, employees are typically paid the business day before. That makes New Year’s Day worth a closer look: moving a January 1 payday to Thursday, December 31 brings that payroll into 2026—and the wages onto employees’ 2026 W-2s.
Depending on your schedule, that could mean an extra payroll in 2026. If that wasn’t part of your plan, now is the time to review the calendar and work out the dates before year-end.
Check your deadline—even if payday isn’t a holiday
A holiday earlier in the week can affect when payroll needs to be submitted. Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, so employers with a Friday payday should confirm their processing deadline in advance.
Don’t assume your usual submission day will work during a holiday week.
Make a plan for Christmas and New Year’s
Both holidays fall on Fridays this season. If Friday is your regular payday, plan for employees to be paid on Thursday, December 24 and Thursday, December 31.
At Payroll Northeast, we ask for all payroll information by Tuesday of each holiday week—December 22 and December 29—so we can get everyone paid before the holiday.
Once the schedule is set, let employees know when to expect their pay. They’re planning around the holidays, too.
Include the people approving payroll
An earlier deadline only helps if someone is available to approve hours.
Before people head out, confirm who will submit time, approve payroll, and answer any questions. If you’re planning holiday bonuses or an extra payroll, include those in the conversation now.
Confirm the funding date
Check when payroll funds will be withdrawn and make sure they’re available by the required deadline. An adjusted pay date may also change when you need money in the account.
Holiday payroll doesn’t need to be complicated. Put the dates on the calendar, confirm the deadlines, and give yourself a little breathing room.
For more year-end preparation, see our 2026 Year-End Payroll Checklist for Small Businesses.
Payroll Northeast provides payroll services for small businesses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Florida, and beyond. Questions about your holiday payroll schedule? Get in touch—we’ll help you sort out the dates.
Holiday dates: Federal Reserve holiday calendar. Processing schedules: Federal Reserve Financial Services.