Rock the 2026 FPC Exam – Master Payroll Fundamentals with Confidence!

When wages are earned on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, the typical scheduling for deposits is to make them on the following Tuesday. This is because employers need time to process the payroll after the earning period ends, ensuring any necessary calculations are completed and funds are available for payroll tax deposits.

The IRS mandates that federal payroll taxes withheld must be deposited based on a specific schedule, which is often influenced by when the wages are paid. By scheduling deposits on Tuesday, employers provide adequate time to prepare for the tax liabilities incurred over the weekend, thus allowing for the smooth processing of these payments.

This timing is designed to ensure compliance with federal tax regulations, as well as to maintain a clear and efficient cash flow for the business. In contrast, deposits made on Saturday or Monday would not provide sufficient time to process the payroll correctly before the tax obligation is due. Similarly, depositing on Wednesday would be too late since the deposit would need to be made before the end of the week for taxes resulting from the prior earnings period.