Dematerialize and sign a payslip online
Dematerialized payslip delivered to the employee with full legal value. Compliant with Article L3243-2 of the Labor Code (Macron law of August 6, 2015) and Decree No. 2016-1762 — retention for 50 years (or until the employee''s 75th birthday), presumed employee consent, express right of opposition, digital safe included.
- Legal framework
- Art. L3243-2 — Macron law
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal retention
- 50 years or until employee''s 75th birthday
What is a dematerialized payslip?
The dematerialized payslip is the electronic version of the payslip, made available to the employee in a secure digital safe. Since the Macron law of August 6, 2015 (Article 54) and the Decree of December 16, 2016, the employer may provide the payslip in electronic form without prior employee agreement, provided the employee is notified at least one month in advance and retention conditions are met (50 years or until the employee''s 75th birthday — period covering potential career reconstruction for retirement). The employee may object at any time and request a return to paper format.
Why dematerialize payslips?
Cost savings on shipping
No more printing, envelopes, stamps, or hand delivery. On 50 payslips/month, typical savings are €1,500–3,000 per year for an SME — not counting HR time spent on paper filing.
50-year digital safe
Each employee accesses their personal digital safe which preserves all payslips for 50 years (or until age 75), in compliance with regulatory requirements. Compatible with future transfer to the personal activity account (CPA).
Presumed consent — no prior agreement needed
Since 2017, employers no longer need to collect express employee consent to switch to electronic payslips. Written notice one month in advance is sufficient. The employee can object at any time and revert to paper format.
Audit trail with legal standing
Each payslip is delivered with a proof PDF: recipient employee identity, timestamp of availability, SHA-256 hash of the document, consultation log. Can be produced as evidence in case of employment tribunal disputes over payslip existence or content.
Dematerializing a payslip in 4 steps
From payslip generation to availability in the digital safe, in under 5 minutes.
1. Inform employees
Send an information letter or email to employees at least 1 month before the first electronic payslip is made available. Specify the conditions for accessing the safe, the retention period, and the right to object. Template available in Certyneo.
2. Import payslips
Upload the batch of payslips (PDF) from your payroll software. Certyneo integrates with major payroll SaaS platforms (Silae, Sage, PayFit, etc.). Automatic detection of the recipient employee.
3. Electronically sign (employer)
Advanced signature (AES) of the payslip by the employer or payroll delegate. Qualified timestamp of availability. Compliant with article L3243-2 and decree 2016-1762.
4. Availability in the digital safe
Each employee receives an email notification + accesses their payslip via their personal digital safe. Automatic 50-year retention, PDF export at any time.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need employee consent to dematerialize their payslips?
- No — since the Macron Law (January 1, 2017), employers can provide the payslip in electronic form without prior employee consent, provided they inform the employee at least one month in advance by any means (mail, email, notice board). The employee can object at any time and obtain a return to paper format at the earliest opportunity.
- How long must dematerialized payslips be kept?
- 50 years from the payslip date, OR until the employee''s 75th birthday (article D3243-8 of the French Labour Code). This period covers potential pension history reconstruction. Certyneo automatically archives each payslip for this duration in a compliant digital safe.
- How does the employee access their payslips?
- Each employee has a personal digital safe accessible by username + password or OTP SMS. They can view, download, and print their payslips at any time, even after leaving the company. The safe is compatible with future transfer to the personal activity account (CPA).
- Can the employee refuse dematerialization?
- Yes — at any time. The employee notifies their refusal to the employer (mail, email, simple letter). The employer must then revert to paper format "at the earliest opportunity" (case law: 3 months maximum). No reason is required and no penalty may be imposed.
- What mandatory information must appear on the payslip?
- Employer and employee identity, pay period, work duration, base salary, bonuses, deductions, detailed social contributions (since the 2018 simplified payslip), taxable net, net pay, paid leave, withholding tax rate. No difference from the paper payslip — only the format changes.
- What happens if the company closes or is taken over?
- The digital safe remains accessible to the employee even after termination of employment or liquidation of the company. Certyneo guarantees data portability to a new host in case of a change of service provider, in compliance with decree 2016-1762.
- What signature level is required for the employer?
- Advanced signature (AES) recommended for the employer or payroll delegate: identity verification by OTP SMS, unique certificate, qualified timestamp. Compliant with article 26 of the eIDAS regulation and compatible with integrity requirements of decree 2016-1762.
- Is the dematerialized payslip enforceable in employment court?
- Yes — advanced electronic signature (AES) gives the payslip the same probative value as a paper payslip (article 1366 French Civil Code). In case of dispute over payslip existence or content, the employer produces the Certyneo audit trail which demonstrates the date of availability, the identity of the recipient employee, and document integrity.
See also
Dematerialize your next payslips
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes/month), no credit card required. Compliant with Macron Law and eIDAS. 50-year digital safe included.