# Salary in foreign currency: accrual, payout, exchange rate differences

URL: https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/payroll/foreign-currency-salary/
Updated: 2026-11-06

> Bimp lets you accrue salary in two currency variants: debt in foreign currency (document currency USD or EUR, rate 1) or debt in hryvnias at a currency rate (document currency UAH, the row has an amount in EUR and a rate). Foreign currency salary is paid from a foreign currency cash desk or account, and Bimp calculates the exchange rate difference between the accrual and payout dates automatically.

## Which options exist for accruing foreign currency salary

Foreign currency salary is accrued in one of two ways. The choice depends on the currency in which you are obliged to pay the money.

| Option | Document currency | What you enter in the row | Debt currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt in foreign currency | USD, EUR | the amount in foreign currency, "Rate" = 1.0000 | foreign currency |
| Debt in hryvnias at a currency rate | UAH | the amount in the rate currency and the exchange rate | hryvnias |

Both options are done with the [Salary accrual](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/payroll/salary-accrual/) document.

## How to accrue salary in a foreign currency

For the debt to the employee to be recorded in a foreign currency, select the foreign currency in the accrual document itself.

**Example.** A developer receives $2,000. You create an accrual in USD and enter 2,000. The company owes the developer exactly 2,000 dollars, even if the rate changes by the time of [payout](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/payroll/salary-payout/).

1. Open **Payroll → Salary accrual** and click **Create**.
2. In the left "Main" panel, in the "Currency" field, select USD or EUR instead of UAH.
3. On the "Employees" tab, add an employee.
4. In the "Accrual" column, enter the amount in foreign currency, for example 2,000.
5. Check that the "Rate" is 1.0000. The accrual currency matches the document currency, so no conversion is needed.
6. Click **Save and close**.

![Salary accrual document in USD: in the employee row the accrual amount in USD and a "Rate" of 1.0000](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/8881b8b1-7306-4d16-b623-bfcaf4bea8c9.webp)

**Where to check the result.** In the ["Salary accrued and paid"](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/reports/payroll-report/) report the debt is shown in the accrual currency. In the "Expenses" and "Income and expenses ([P&L](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/reports/profit-and-loss-report/))" reports the amount is automatically converted to the management currency at the rate on the posting date.

## How to accrue salary in hryvnias at a currency rate

If the rate was agreed in a foreign currency but you accrue and pay in hryvnias, keep the document currency UAH and enter the rate in foreign currency with the exchange rate. The debt is recorded in hryvnias at the time the document is created.

**Example.** A storekeeper did work worth 5 EUR at a rate of 34.00. Bimp records a debt of 170 UAH (5 x 34).

1. Create a "Salary accrual" document and keep the value UAH in the "Currency" field.
2. On the "Employees" tab, add an employee and an [accrual type](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/payroll/accrual-types/). If the accrual type has a rate in a foreign currency, the "Accrual" column shows the amount and currency of the rate (for example, 5 EUR).
3. In the "Rate" column, enter the conversion rate: 34.0000 (1 EUR = 34 UAH).
4. Check the "Amount in document currency" column: 5 EUR x 34.00 = 170 UAH. This amount will be the debt.
5. Click **Save and close**.

![Salary accrual document No. 7 in UAH: the row of an employee with the accrual type "Packing" has an amount of 5 EUR, a rate of 34.0000, "Amount in document currency" 170 UAH; these columns and the "Currency" field are highlighted in red; at the bottom "Accrued 170 UAH"](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/68f2e8bf-fe0e-4a29-9d38-8aadd7f04421.webp)

In the "Salary accrued and paid" report the debt will grow by 170 UAH (not by 5 EUR), and 170 UAH will go to "Expenses" and P&L. The payout is also expected in hryvnias.

## How to pay salary in a foreign currency

Foreign currency salary is paid with the "Salary payout" document [created based on](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/basics/create-based-on/) the accrual: Bimp fills in the currency and the amount of debt itself.

1. Open the posted "Salary accrual" in USD or EUR.
2. Click **Create based on** → **Salary payout**.
3. Check the data in the document: the "Currency" must match the accrual currency, the "Accounting rate" is filled in with the current rate from the currency directory, and the "Payment amount" equals the debt in foreign currency.

   ![Salary payout document No. 13 in USD: "Accounting rate" 0.0256, a USD account at UNIVERSAL BANK; in the table the employee Valentyn Lavrov, accrual type "Unloading", "Payment amount" 10 USD, "Debt amount" 10 USD; at the bottom "Total 10 USD"](https://bimpsoft.com/help/_img/df2e804f-a4a5-4053-895c-35a49f72dab9.webp)

4. In the "Payment" block, select the "Settlement type" and a foreign currency cash desk or account: "USD cash desk", "USD Payoneer".
5. Click **Save and close**.

> [!WARNING] Do not pay dollars from a hryvnia cash desk or account: this distorts the balances. Select a cash desk or account in the same currency.

## How Bimp calculates the exchange rate difference

An exchange rate difference arises when the rate on the payout day differs from the rate on the accrual day. Bimp calculates it automatically in the "Exchange rate difference" column (the rightmost column of the payout table):

**(rate on the payout date - rate on the accrual date) x payout amount**

If the column shows 0, the rate has not changed. If there is an amount, it is the difference in hryvnias (the base accounting currency), which goes to the company's expenses or income.

**Example.** On January 15 a developer is accrued $1,000 at a rate of 40 UAH/USD: debt of 40,000 UAH. On January 20, $1,000 is paid at a rate of 41 UAH/USD: 41,000 UAH is actually spent. Bimp closes the debt ($1,000) and records 1,000 UAH of exchange rate difference in expenses.

General currency exchange rules are described in the article [Currency exchange and exchange rate difference](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/finance/currency-exchange/).

## Where to check the payout results

- ["Cash flow"](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/reports/cash-flow-report/): a write-off in foreign currency, for example -1,000 USD.
- "Salary accrued and paid": the debt to the employee equals 0.
- "Income and expenses (P&L)": the exchange rate difference as a separate item (usually "Other expenses" or "Exchange rate differences"), which affects net profit.

Currency rate settings are covered in the article [Currencies, rates and multi-currency accounting](https://bimpsoft.com/en/help/getting-started/currencies-and-rates/).

## FAQ

**How do I accrue a salary in dollars so that the debt stays in dollars?**

In the "Salary accrual" document select the document currency USD, enter the amount in dollars and make sure the "Rate" is 1.0000. The debt will be recorded in USD.

**How do I accrue a salary in hryvnias if the rate is in euros?**

Select the document currency UAH, enter the amount in EUR and the conversion rate in the employee's row. Bimp calculates the amount in hryvnias (for example, 5 EUR x 34 = 170 UAH) and records the debt in hryvnias.

**How does Bimp calculate the exchange rate difference on payout?**

By the formula (rate on the payout date - rate on the accrual date) x payout amount. The result is shown in the "Exchange rate difference" column and appears in reporting as a separate item.