Digitize and sign a payslip online
Digitized payslip issued 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 reaches age 75), presumed consent of the employee, express right of objection, digital safe deposit included.
- Legal framework
- Art. L3243-2 — Macron Law
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal retention
- 50 years or until age 75 of the employee
What is a digitized payslip?
The digitized payslip is the electronic version of the payslip, made available to the employee in a secure digital safe deposit. Since the Macron Law of August 6, 2015 (article 54) and the decree of December 16, 2016, the employer can deliver the payslip in electronic form without prior agreement from the employee, provided they are informed at least one month in advance and retention conditions are met (50 years or until the employee reaches age 75 — a period that covers any potential career reconstruction for retirement). The employee can object at any time and request a return to paper format.
Why digitize payslips?
Savings on mailing costs
No more printing, envelopes, stamps, or hand delivery. For 50 payslips/month, typical savings are €1,500–3,000 per year for an SME — not counting HR time spent on paper archiving.
50-year digital safe deposit
Each employee has access to their personal digital safe deposit that retains all their payslips for 50 years (or until age 75), in accordance with regulatory requirements. Compatible with future transfer to the personal activity account (CPA).
Presumed consent — no prior agreement
Since 2017, the employer no longer needs to obtain express consent from the employee to switch to electronic payslips. Written notification one month in advance is sufficient. The employee can object at any time and revert to paper format.
Opposable audit trail
Each payslip is delivered with a proof PDF: identity of the recipient employee, timestamped availability, SHA-256 hash of the document, access log. Opposable in case of employment tribunal dispute over the existence or content of the payslip.
Digitize a payslip in 4 steps
From payslip generation to availability in the safe deposit, in less than 5 minutes.
1. Inform employees
Send a notification letter or email to employees at least 1 month before the first electronic availability. Specify the conditions of access to the safe deposit, the retention period, and the right of objection. Template available in Certyneo.
2. Import payslips
Upload the batch of payslips (PDF) from your payroll software. Certyneo integrates with major payroll SaaS (Silae, Sage, PayFit, etc.). Automatic detection of the recipient employee.
3. Sign electronically (employer)
Advanced signature (AES) of the payslip by the employer or payroll delegate. Qualified timestamping of availability. Compliant with article L3243-2 and decree 2016-1762.
4. Availability in the safe deposit
Each employee receives an email notification + accesses their payslip via their personal digital safe deposit. Automatic 50-year retention, PDF export at any time.
Frequently asked questions
- Is employee consent required to digitize their payslips?
- No — since the Macron Law (January 1, 2017), the employer can deliver the payslip in electronic form without prior consent from the employee, provided they are informed at least one month in advance by any means (letter, email, posting). The employee can object at any time and obtain a return to paper format as soon as possible.
- How long must digitized payslips be retained?
- 50 years from the date of the payslip, OR until the employee reaches age 75 (article D3243-8 of the Labor Code). This period covers any potential career reconstruction for retirement. Certyneo automatically archives each payslip for this duration in a compliant digital safe deposit.
- How does the employee access their payslips?
- Each employee has access to a personal digital safe deposit accessible by username + password or SMS OTP. They can view, download, and print their payslips at any time, including after leaving the company. The safe deposit is compatible with future transfer to the personal activity account (CPA).
- Can the employee refuse digitization?
- Yes — at any time. The employee notifies their refusal to the employer (letter, email, simple mail). The employer must then revert to paper format "as soon as possible" (case law: 3 months maximum). No reason is required and no penalty can 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 income, net amount due, paid leave, withholding tax rate. No difference from the paper payslip — only the medium changes.
- What happens if the company closes or is acquired?
- The digital safe deposit remains accessible to the employee even after termination of the employment contract or company liquidation. Certyneo guarantees data portability to a new host in the event of a service provider change, 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 SMS OTP, single certificate, qualified timestamping. Compliant with article 26 of the eIDAS regulation and compatible with the integrity requirements of decree 2016-1762.
- Is the dematerialized payslip enforceable in labor court?
- Yes — advanced electronic signature (AES) gives the payslip the same probative force as the paper payslip (article 1366 Civil Code). In case of dispute over the existence or content of the payslip, the employer produces the Certyneo audit trail which demonstrates the date of availability, the identity of the employee recipient and the integrity of the document.
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Dematerialize your next payslips
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes/month), no credit card. Compliant with Macron law and eIDAS. 50-year digital safe included.