Early Submission and Calculate of Time & Attendance Files for Pay Period 2026-01

DATE: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

The New Year’s Day holiday on January 1, 2026, falls at a critical time in the payroll processing cycle for Pay Period 2026-01. As a result of the holiday, all pay groups are required to submit amendments and current Time and Attendance (T&A) files to the IBC, as outlined in the schedule below, which may be early for some agencies.

The Pay Period 2026-01 schedule provides the submission deadlines and important notes to follow, with T&A files required no later than 8:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. MT, or earlier, depending on the latest release allowed by your T&A solution. If you are unsure which pay processing group your agency is in, you can review the Pay Processing Group Report.

Please ensure that all timekeepers and data processing staff are advised of the Pay Period 2026-01 schedule.

Pay Period 2026-01 Schedule

Important Notes:

• T&As must be submitted and released.
• It is imperative that all agencies complete personnel actions related to retroactive pay adjustments that impact amended and current T&A processing such as separations, deceased actions, leave without pay status, etc.

Changes to T&A Release Schedules

To ensure submissions are received early, it may require changes to release schedules:

IBC SUPPORTED T&A SOLUTIONS (QUICKTIME & webTA):

• Administrators must review and ensure the Lock/Release or Build and Transfers schedule is changed appropriately for early submission.
  • Once payroll calculate has been completed, administrators must change the schedules back to normal scheduling
• If assistance is needed, you may contact Tammy Mitchell at Tammy_L_Mitchell@ibc.doi.gov or 303-969-5245. 

NON-IBC SUPPORTED T&A SOLUTIONS:

• Agencies should talk with their T&A Administrators to see if changes are needed. 

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Pay Date

The EFT pay date is determined by the Pay Processing Group that your agency is assigned to in FPPS, and it should be the date when funds are deposited into employees’ bank accounts. Some financial institutions may advance funds to accounts prior to the official EFT pay date. Please advise your employees that IBC is unable to address any deposits that are made on a date prior to the established EFT pay date.

Below is a table that reflects the EFT pay date by Pay Processing Group. Please note that the “official pay date” for all agencies is the second Tuesday following the end of the pay period.

Resources:

• Pay Processing Group Report

Questions:

• Please contact the Customer Support Center at Payroll_Helpdesk@ios.doi.gov or 1-866-FOR-1-CSC (1-866-367-1272).