What is a primary objective of internal controls in payroll processing?

• A. Prevent errors and fraud, ensure proper approvals, accurate deductions, and timely payments
• B. Increase payroll costs
• C. Automate all payments without human oversight
• D. Eliminate payroll deductions

Answer: (A)

Internal controls in payroll processing focus on safeguarding assets and ensuring accurate, reliable payroll results. The main objective is to prevent errors and fraud by establishing proper approvals, accurate deductions, and timely payments. This is achieved through separation of duties so no one person can both authorize and process payroll, requiring supervisory review, validation of hours, rates, and benefit elections, and reconciling payroll records to the general ledger. An audit trail and access controls help detect and deter misuse, while timely payments and accurate deductions ensure compliance with tax withholdings and benefit plans.

Other options miss the mark: increasing payroll costs isn’t the goal of controls; automation without oversight can undermine safeguards; eliminating deductions would violate legal requirements and employee rights.