Error: "Period end date is for prior year" (issuing checks for a new year)

You’re issuing checks for a new year but your period end date is in the prior year.

You'll receive this warning message when your check date is in the current year, but the period end date is in the prior year. If the period end date is correct, continue with your normal work flow to issue checks.

Close the year in Payroll before you process or print checks for a new year. If you don’t close the year before issuing new year payroll, Sage uses the prior year totals to calculate for the new year.

See FAQ (US) - Timing of year-end tasks: What should I do when? for more information on the effects of processing payroll before you close the year.