As you are planning for 2019, take note of the federal banking holidays. Depending on where they fall in the year, they may have an impact on your payroll processing schedule. Mark your calendar, set electronic reminders, and you’ll be well prepared for 2019 and ensuring your employees receive their paychecks on time throughout the year.
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System sets the federal banking holidays listed below. The payroll processing and check dates below are based on the following assumptions:
- Your regularly scheduled check date falls on the holiday (or the day after in the case of Thanksgiving)
- You would like to pay your employees the previous business day
- You have a two-day processing timeline
If you find that you have a 2019 check date that falls one or two days after a banking holiday, it is likely that your processing day will need to be moved up.
Visit the Federal Reserve Holidays Observed site to see a list of banking holidays through 2022. Download and print our 2019 payroll calendar and customize it with your processing days and check dates.
Holiday | Date | Process Payroll | Check Date |
New Year’s Day 2019 | Tuesday, January 1, 2019 | December 27, 2018 | December 31, 2018 |
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Monday, January 21, 2019 | January 16, 2019 | January 18, 2019 |
Washington’s Birthday | Monday, February 18, 2019 | February 13, 2019 | February 15, 2019 |
Memorial Day | Monday, May 27, 2019 | May 22, 2019 | May 24, 2019 |
Independence Day | Thursday, July 4, 2019 | July 1, 2019 | July 3, 2019 |
Labor Day | Monday, September 2, 2019 | August 28, 2019 | August 30, 2019 |
Columbus Day | Monday, October 14, 2019 | October 9, 2019 | October 11, 2019 |
Veterans Day | Monday, November 11, 2019 | November 6, 2019 | November 8, 2019 |
Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 28, 2019 | November 25, 2019 | November 27, 2019 |
The day after Thanksgiving is not a banking holiday but is likely a check date for many employers. | November 26, 2019 | November 29, 2019 | |
Christmas Day | Wednesday, December 25, 2019 | December 20, 2019 | December 24, 2019 |
New Year’s Day 2020 | Wednesday, January 1, 2020 | December 27, 2019 | December 31, 2019 |