Overview
If you notice a deduction on your payslip that you weren’t expecting, it’s usually due to statutory requirements, company policies, or voluntary elections you’ve made.
This guide explains the most common reasons deductions appear, and how to check the details in your Helios account.
1. Types of Deductions
A. Statutory / Mandatory Deductions
These are required by law in your country and are automatically withheld by your employer or EOR:
Income tax (federal, state, provincial, or local)
Social security contributions (e.g., US Social Security & Medicare, UK NICs, Canada CPP/QPP, Germany Sozialversicherung)
Unemployment insurance
National health insurance or similar statutory schemes
Other local government levies or pension funds (e.g., Philippines SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG, Mexico IMSS/INFONAVIT, Brazil INSS/FGTS)
B. Company-Specific Deductions
These are deductions made according to your company’s policies or agreements:
Health, dental, or vision insurance premiums (employer-sponsored plans)
Retirement or pension plan contributions (above statutory minimums)
Union dues or professional membership fees (if applicable)
Equipment repayments or company loan repayments
Benefit cost-sharing (e.g., gym memberships, meal plans)
C. Voluntary Deductions
These occur when you’ve opted into certain programs or benefits:
Supplemental insurance (life, disability, critical illness)
Additional retirement contributions (e.g., 401(k) voluntary deferrals, extra pension buy-ins)
Charitable donations via payroll
Salary sacrifice arrangements
D. Adjustment Deductions
These may occur if payroll needs to correct a previous overpayment or reclaim funds:
Salary advance repayment
Overpayment recovery from prior period
Tax or benefit corrections from earlier months
Pro-rated deductions when starting or leaving mid-pay period
2. How to Check Your Payslip for Deduction Details
Log in to your Helios account.
Navigate to My Profile from the left navigation
Select Pay Info from the top navigation
Scroll to the bottom of the page to Deductions
Review the Deductions section for:
Deduction name
Deduction Type
Tax Rule
Start Date
End Date
Employee Pays
Company Pays
Compare to your contract, benefits enrolments, or statutory rates for your country.
3. Who to Contact if You Have Questions
If You’re a Direct Employee: Contact your company’s HR/Payroll team.
If You’re an EOR Employee: Contact the EOR support team via:
In-Platform: Help → Submit a Request → “Payroll” category
Email: [EOR Support Email] (include your full name, employee ID, country, pay date, and deduction details)
4. Country-Specific Examples
Deductions vary widely by country. A few examples:
Philippines: SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and withholding tax
Germany: Income tax (Lohnsteuer), solidarity surcharge, pension, health, unemployment, and nursing care insurance
Mexico: Income tax (ISR), social security (IMSS), housing fund (INFONAVIT)
United Kingdom: PAYE income tax, National Insurance, pension auto-enrolment contributions
United States: Federal/state/local taxes, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance
5. Tip for Avoiding Surprises
Review your employment agreement and benefits enrolment forms to know what deductions to expect.
If you move to another country, change benefit elections, or switch employment type (direct vs. EOR), deduction types and amounts will likely change.
Remember: Most deductions are either legally required or linked to benefits/programs you’ve chosen. If something looks wrong, raise it quickly so payroll can investigate before the next cycle.