9 Common Global Payroll Challenges

As modern businesses continue to expand across the globe, more companies are learning how to grapple with the complexities of managing international teams. One of the most challenging issues is also the most ubiquitous—managing payroll. 

Overseeing taxes, direct deposits, record keeping, and bank holidays is hard enough on its own. When you’re operating in multiple countries, the administrative quirks become even more complex. Payroll and compliance challenges in globalization can range from keeping track of legal requirements to inefficient systems for consolidating payroll details.

By creating an effective global compensation strategy, your team can streamline international payroll operations regardless of where you operate. Let’s explore some of the key global payroll challenges and ways to manage them.

1. Varying Regulations and Requirements

You may have a handle on tax deductions, retirement accounts, and employee classifications in your country—but keeping track of payroll regulations across the globe is another story. As you learn how to pay international employees, it’s imperative that you understand the legal and regulatory requirements of each country in order to remain compliant. 

Not to mention all the staggered reporting and tax deadlines you’ll encounter in different areas. For example, corporate tax deadlines in Spain and Australia are within 25 and 15 calendar days of the seventh month after the tax year, respectively. In the US, this deadline shrinks to within 15 days of the fourth month of the tax year. 

By partnering with a global payroll service provider, you can outsource the bureaucratic and regulatory complexities of global payroll processing. By partnering with a quality international payroll professional, they can keep track of deadlines and requirements on your behalf. Plus, they’ll keep you in the loop about any critical changes.

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2. Unclear Costs

When you have multiple payroll processes for the different countries in which you operate, it can be hard to keep track of how much you’re spending on wages, taxes, and benefits. Finding ways to consolidate and visualize your payroll expenses can make it easier to manage costs. 

3. Data Accuracy

Operating internationally can potentially introduce more opportunities for human error. Your payroll team has to account for foreign banking fees and currency conversion rates, which are often in flux. Introducing more automation into your payroll processes can help you avoid administrative mistakes and ensure that your payroll is accurate in every market.

4. International Communication

Time zones and language differences pose a tangible barrier when processing payroll for international teams. Partnering with local market experts or having them on your payroll team makes it easier for you to file accurate documents in the local language. It also gives you the ability to provide payroll support to your international employees in their own time zone. 

5. Data Confidentiality

Privacy and data security is a serious issue wherever you are—but as an employer, you have an additional responsibility to understand data protection laws for the countries in which you operate. 

Each country has its own guidelines for how to handle sensitive employee information, such as social security numbers and banking details. For example, in the UK, you must follow data-compliance regulations set forth by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), whereas in Germany, employers must follow the German Privacy Act.

As a whole, implementing strict privacy requirements across the board or working with international privacy experts can help you avoid global payroll compliance risks.

6. Vendor Management

When you operate in multiple countries, it makes sense to work with different local vendors that have an intimate understanding of best practices in their area. But finding trustworthy vendors and managing communications with multiple partners can be challenging. An employer of record (EOR) can help consolidate communications with your partners and streamline vendor management for your payroll operations. 

7. Lack of Standardization

Because reporting requirements vary from place to place, data standardization can become an issue. It’s easier to correctly interpret payroll data when your reports all contain the same information. Converting your reports from different countries into the same format and choosing a few key metrics to focus on can make it easier to curate accurate, readable payroll records.

8. Information Silos

Even with consistent reporting standards, operating in multiple locations can create distinct data silos. Everyone on your HR and legal team should be able to access relevant data from your international payroll vendors. Having a single payroll platform where you can view tax information, reports, and pay slips ensures that everyone can remain up-to-date on important payroll details.

9. Inefficient Data Consolidation

When you want to consolidate your reports into one spot, it’s important to do so efficiently. Working with different international payroll providers means you may not have systems in place to automatically share their reports in one convenient location. 

Manually migrating data can take up valuable time and introduce potential mistakes into your data. Choosing a platform with automated payroll consolidation tools allows your team to focus on high-level tasks instead of spending time re-typing information into their internal systems. 

Perfecting Global Payroll Operations With Omnipresent

You don’t have to let payroll logistics hold you back from hiring the perfect international candidate. By working with an established EOR, you gain access to proven processes and up-to-date knowledge of local payroll requirements—regardless of where you’re hiring. Omnipresent takes the guesswork out of global payroll services, handling all the nuances on your behalf.

If you’re curious about how Omnipresent can transform your international payroll operations, reach out to one of our experts to get started.