---
title: "Gross up a payroll item"
method: POST
path: "/payroll_items/{payroll_item}/gross_up"
---

# Gross up a payroll item

`POST /payroll_items/{payroll_item}/gross_up`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://sandbox.checkhq.com`
- URL: `https://sandbox.checkhq.com/payroll_items/{payroll_item}/gross_up`
- Auth: API key in header `Authorization`
- TypeScript: <https://skmtc.dev/checkhq/apis/check-api/docs/payroll_items/:payroll_item/gross_up/post.ts> (a function with typed inputs; its response is checked against the schema)

Calculates the gross wage needed for the employee to receive the requested `net_amount` after taxes, then replaces the payroll item's earnings with that single earning and returns the updated payroll item.

The payroll item must belong to a draft off-cycle payroll with `apply_benefits` and `apply_post_tax_deductions` set to `false`. The request must contain exactly one `bonus` or `commission` earning. The calculation is synchronous: a `200` response means the gross has been calculated and saved, and the payroll's current preview has been invalidated. `net_amount` is not stored; the saved earning is an ordinary fixed-gross earning.

See the <a href="https://docs.checkhq.com/docs/gross-up-payments">Gross-up Payments</a> guide for the full workflow.

## Path parameters

- `payroll_item` string, required

## Headers

- `X-Idempotency-Key` string

## Request body

- object
  - `earnings` object[], required: The complete intended earnings for the payroll item. Must contain exactly one earning. Any earnings currently saved on the item are replaced.
    - `type` string: Type of earning. Must be `bonus` or `commission`. Provide either `type` or `earning_code`.
    - `workplace` string, required: ID of the workplace where work for this earning was performed
    - `earning_code` string: ID of an earning code of type `bonus` or `commission`, used to aggregate earnings on the paystub. Provide either `type` or `earning_code`.
    - `description` string: Readable description of the earning code that will show up on the paystub
    - `net_amount` string, required: The net amount, after the employee's taxes, that this earning should pay the employee. Reimbursements on the payroll item are paid in addition to this amount.<br><br>Must be greater than 0. Not stored; the calculated gross is saved in `amount`.
    - `metadata` string, json: Additional loosely structured information to associate with the earning
  - `supplemental_tax_calc_method` string: Controls the method used by Check to calculate tax on supplemental earnings. May be `flat` or `aggregate`. Omit to keep the item's saved value.
  - `tax_overrides` object[]: The set of tax override objects to save with the grossed-up earning. Accounted for in the calculation. Omit to keep the item's saved overrides; send an empty array to clear them.
    - `tax` string, required: ID of the tax being overridden. Only Federal Income Tax and State Income Taxes are eligible.
    - `amount` string, required: Updated withholding amount to use for this payroll only.

## Response `200`

200

## Changes

- **2026-11-03** `5a54f5eb888b`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/checkhq/apis/check-api/changes/payroll_items/:payroll_item/gross_up/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/checkhq/apis/check-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/checkhq/apis/check-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/checkhq/apis/check-api/revisions/5a54f5eb888b?raw)