How To Fix PH088 - Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be before today's date

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: PH - PA: Archiving & Reorganization

• Message number: 088

• Message text: Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be before today's date

What causes this issue?

The retroactive accounting limit must come before today's date because
the date you have specified (provided that it corresponds to the period
start date) or the next period start date is transferred to the
employee's <LS>Payroll Status</> infotype record (0003) as the earliest
personal retroactive accounting limit.

System Response

How to fix this error?

Choose an earlier date for the retroactive accounting limit.

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 PH088 - Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be before today's date ?

  The SAP error message PH088, which states "Retroactive accounting limit for payroll must be before today's date," typically occurs in the context of payroll processing when there is an attempt to process payroll retroactively beyond the defined limits set in the system.
  Cause:
  The error is caused by the retroactive accounting limit being set to a date that is either today or a future date. In SAP, the retroactive accounting limit defines how far back payroll can be processed for adjustments or corrections. If you try to run payroll for a period that is beyond this limit, the system will generate this error.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, you can take the following steps:
  
  
  Check the Retroactive Accounting Limit:
  
  Navigate to the configuration settings for payroll in SAP.
  Check the retroactive accounting limit settings for the relevant payroll area. This can typically be found in the following path:
  
  SPRO > Personnel Management > Payroll > Payroll USA (or your specific country) > Payroll Control Record > Maintain Payroll Control Record
  
  
  Ensure that the retroactive accounting limit is set to a date that is before today’s date.
  
  
  
  Adjust the Payroll Control Record:
  
  If the limit is set incorrectly, you can adjust it to a date that allows for the necessary retroactive processing. Make sure to set it to a date that is appropriate for your payroll processing needs.
  
  
  
  Re-run Payroll:
  
  After adjusting the retroactive accounting limit, attempt to re-run the payroll process that was previously failing.
  
  
  
  Consult Documentation:
  
  If you are unsure about the appropriate settings, consult your organization's payroll documentation or reach out to your SAP support team for guidance.
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  Impact on Payroll Processing: This error can prevent payroll from being processed correctly, which can lead to delays in employee payments and other payroll-related issues.
  User Roles: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to make changes to the payroll control record.
  Documentation: Always refer to SAP's official documentation or help resources for the most accurate and detailed instructions related to your specific version of SAP.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the PH088 error and continue with your payroll processing.