“The file was created before the pay period ended”

What this flag on a pay stub means, why it matters, and what to check.

What it means

The PDF records a creation date more than a week before the pay period it covers ended (or before its pay date, whichever is earlier).

Why it matters

Payroll can't export a stub for work that hasn't happened yet. A file older than its own pay period was usually made by editing an earlier stub.

Ordinary explanations

• A wrong clock on the computer that made the file.

What to check

Ask the applicant for the stub downloaded from the payroll portal, and confirm this paycheck with the employer. Use the phone number on the employer's official website, not the one printed on the stub.

A flag is a reason to verify with the source, not proof. Apply the same steps to every applicant.