How To Fix PH086 - Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be & or later

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PH - PA: Archiving & Reorganization

• Message number: 086

• Message text: Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be & or later

What causes this issue?

You have changed the system default for the retroactive accounting
limit. You have chosen a date that comes before the date proposed by
the system.

System Response

The system proposed its retroactive accounting limit to keep the
interval between the retroactive accounting limit and the archiving
date to a minimum. This means that an earlier retroactive accounting
limit is not possible.

How to fix this error?

Choose a later date for the retroactive accounting limit, or restore
the system default.

Procedure for System Administrators

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message PH086 - Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be & or later ?

  The SAP error message PH086, which states "Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be & or later," typically occurs in the context of payroll processing when the retroactive accounting limit is set to a date that is earlier than the date of the payroll period being processed. This can prevent the system from correctly calculating payroll for periods that require retroactive adjustments.
  Cause:
  The error is caused by the configuration of the retroactive accounting limit in the payroll settings. The retroactive accounting limit defines the maximum period for which payroll adjustments can be made. If the payroll period you are trying to process falls before this limit, the system will throw this error.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check the Retroactive Accounting Limit:
  
  Go to the configuration settings for payroll in SAP (usually found in the IMG under Payroll).
  Navigate to the section where the retroactive accounting limit is defined (e.g., "Payroll -> Payroll Control Record").
  Verify the date set for the retroactive accounting limit.
  
  
  
  Adjust the Retroactive Accounting Limit:
  
  If the limit is set too early, you may need to adjust it to a later date that encompasses the payroll period you are trying to process.
  Ensure that the new limit is in line with your organization's payroll policies and practices.
  
  
  
  Check Payroll Control Record:
  
  Ensure that the payroll control record is correctly set up for the relevant period.
  Make sure that the payroll control record is not locked and is in the correct status for processing.
  
  
  
  Re-run Payroll:
  
  After making the necessary adjustments, re-run the payroll process for the affected period.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  If you are unsure about the appropriate settings, consult SAP documentation or your organization's SAP support team for guidance.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may use transaction codes like PA03 (Maintain Payroll Control Record) or SPRO (SAP Reference IMG) to access the relevant configuration settings.
  Testing: After making changes, it is advisable to test the payroll run in a development or test environment before applying changes in the production environment.
  User Roles: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to make changes to payroll settings.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the PH086 error and successfully process payroll. If issues persist, consider reaching out to your SAP support team for further assistance.