Payroll Services

Salary Spread

Employees with a nine-month basis appointment may be eligible to elect salary spread so that payments are received in the summer. Once salary spread has been elected, the arrangement is irrevocable for the remainder of the fiscal year. It will remain in effect for all future fiscal years until a cancellation request is sent to Payroll Services or until the employee becomes ineligible.

To be eligible for salary spread, the employee must be appointed faculty (excluding assistant instructors) or researcher in combination with a faculty title. In addition, appointments (both faculty and research) must have a nine-month basis, end before June (i.e., not a summer appointment) and cannot be paid from a 26 account number (e.g., grant account). State of Texas retirees are not eligible to participate in the salary spread program.

Employees who meet all the criteria may elect salary spread by completing and sending in the Salary Spread Request Form to Payroll Services. This form must be received no later than Aug. 31, for an employee appointed for the fall semester and Jan. 15, for a new employee appointed for the first time in the spring semester.

In the event of a change in status to an employee's appointment that causes it to no longer meet the requirements stated above, a full settlement of all reserved amounts will be paid to the employee. The salary spread will be reinstated for future appointments when they are compliant. Other changes in status that will result in the cancellation of salary spread and a settlement of reserved amounts include separation, retirement, or death.

Benefits eligible employees who elect salary spread and participate in either the Teacher Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program will make a retirement contribution from each of the 12 payroll checks. Employees who participate in the UTSaver TSA 403(b) or DCP 457(b) programs have the option to make contributions on a 9-or 12-month basis. Benefits eligible employees enrolled in insurance coverage who elect salary spread will have insurance premium deductions and premium sharing additions on each of the 12 payroll checks. For questions regarding your UTSaver participation or insurance coverage, please contact the Human Resource Service Center (HRSC) by e-mail at HRSC@austin.utexas.edu or by phone at 512-471-4772.

Requests for the cancellation of salary spread will go into effect the next fiscal year, beginning Sept. 1.