Answer
The Limit Start Date determines which completed pays count toward the limit. Only pays with a processed date on or after this date are included in the count and total calculations.
Key behaviours
- Limit Start Date is required when Max Applications or Max Total Amount is set above 0. Lightning Payroll won't save a deduction that has a limit but no start date, and shows Enter a Limit Start Date, or set Max Applications and Max Total Amount to 0. If neither limit is set, leave the start date blank.
- Only completed pays are counted. Draft or in-progress pays do not contribute to the limit. This means the limit is only consumed once a pay run is finalised.
- Matching is by description. The system matches pay deductions to the employee deduction using the deduction description and post-tax status. If you rename a deduction, previously completed pays under the old name will no longer count toward the limit.
- Both limits can be combined. If you set Max Applications to 12 and Max Total Amount to $1,200, the deduction stops as soon as either 12 applications or $1,200 total is reached, whichever comes first.
Resetting or adjusting limits
- To restart a limit cycle (for example at the beginning of a new financial year), update the Limit Start Date to the new start date. Previous pays before that date will no longer count.
- To remove limits entirely, set Max Applications to 0 and Max Total Amount to $0, then save. The system clears the start date automatically.
- To increase a limit mid-cycle, simply update the Max Applications or Max Total Amount field. The existing count and total are preserved and the deduction will continue until the new limit is reached.
