--- title: "Payroll software and working-time record: they are not the same thing · Sicheca" description: "What each system does and why you need both." url: https://sicheca.com/en/blog/software-de-nomina-vs-registro-de-jornada lang: en alternate_es: https://sicheca.com/blog/software-de-nomina-vs-registro-de-jornada.md --- Comparisons · 3 min read # Payroll software and working-time record: they are not the same Short answer Payroll software calculates payments. The working-time record measures the hours they are calculated from. One does not replace the other. ## How they connect The record delivers regular, night and overtime hours per person. Payroll converts them into pesos. ## The common mistake Entering hours into payroll "from memory." ## The reform in one minute The reform has two parts. On March 3, 2026, article 123 of the Constitution was amended to set the 40-hour workweek. On May 1, 2026, the Federal Labor Law was amended, which is where the detail is. - The maximum working week drops from 48 to 40 hours, two hours per year, between 2027 and 2030. - Overtime has a weekly cap: it is paid at double time up to the cap and at triple time for up to 4 more hours. - Each company must electronically record the start and end time of each person's workday. - Not keeping that record is fined 250 to 5,000 UMA. - Salary and benefits cannot go down because of the reduction in hours. What remains pending are the STPS general rules, which will define who the record applies to and what exceptions there will be. They take effect on January 1, 2027. | Year | Maximum working hours | Double-time overtime | Triple-time overtime | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026 | 48 h | 9 h | 4 h | | 2027 | 46 h | 9 h | 4 h | | 2028 | 44 h | 10 h | 4 h | | 2029 | 42 h | 11 h | 4 h | | 2030 | 40 h | 12 h | 4 h | Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 1, 2026, second and fourth transitory provisions, and article 68 of the LFT. Each change applies from January 1. ## Common mistakes - Comparing the purchase price and not the cost of operating. - Not testing the tool with the real team. - Forgetting the staff who do not work on site. - Not asking how an error is corrected. - Not checking how data is downloaded if you change providers. ## What to do now 1. Note how your team works: on site, in the field or remotely. 2. Define which report you need to deliver. 3. Try two options for a week. 4. Ask the team which one they used without help. 5. Check how you export your data. ## Related terms **[What is the contribution base salary (SBC)](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/salario-base-de-cotizacion-sbc).** The contribution base salary is the salary used to calculate IMSS contributions and INFONAVIT contributions. **[Overtime: what it is](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/tiempo-extraordinario).** Overtime is the hours worked above the ordinary workday. **[What is the payroll CFDI](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/cfdi-de-nomina).** The payroll CFDI is the payment receipt stamped with the SAT that the company issues for each salary payment. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Sicheca calculate payroll? No. Sicheca records working time and delivers the report. ### Where do I find the official text? In the Official Gazette of the Federation of May 1, 2026 and in the current version of the Federal Labor Law published by the Chamber of Deputies. ### Does this replace the advice of a lawyer? No. It is general information. For decisions about your company, consult a labor lawyer. ### Does the law require a particular system? No. It asks that the record be electronic and include the start and end time for each person. ### What happens when the STPS publishes its rules? They will specify who the record applies to and its exceptions. It is worth checking them as soon as they appear in the Official Gazette of the Federation. ## Legal basis and sources - Electronic working-time record: article 132, section XXXIV, of the LFT and fifth transitory provision of the decree. - Working hours: articles 58 to 64 of the LFT and second transitory provision of the decree. - [Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week](https://sidof.segob.gob.mx/notas/docFuente/5786537). Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026. - [Federal Labor Law, current text](https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LFT.pdf). Chamber of Deputies. **How we write this content.** The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant. ## Keep reading [ Comparisons **Working-time record by WhatsApp: how it will work**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/registro-de-jornada-por-whatsapp) [ Comparisons **Free or paid attendance control: what to check**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/control-de-asistencia-gratis-vs-de-pago) [ Comparisons **How to choose a working-time recording system**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/como-elegir-un-sistema-de-registro-de-jornada) [ Law and fines **Electronic working-time record: what it is and what the law requires**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/registro-electronico-de-jornada-que-es) [See all articles](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/) Who publishes this blog Sicheca is a digital time clock for recording working time from your phone. We write these guides from the official text of the law, so any business can understand what applies to it. If you want to try it, there is a waitlist. [Join the waitlist](https://sicheca.com/en/lista-de-espera?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=articulo&utm_campaign=software-de-nomina-vs-registro-de-jornada&utm_content=final)