# I cannot approve a timesheet

- URL: https://www.usewisecost.com/help/troubleshooting/cannot-approve-a-timesheet
- Audience: Admins and approvers
- Last updated: 2026-09-19
- Part of the WiseCost Help Center: https://www.usewisecost.com/help

> WiseCost blocks an approval for separation of duties, or because the timesheet belongs to another team. A backup approver or an admin can approve it.

When WiseCost refuses to approve a timesheet, it tells you the reason. There are two common ones: separation of duties (it is your own timesheet, or you entered hours on it for the employee) and a timesheet that belongs to another team. In both cases another approver, the backup approver or an administrator can approve it.

## Separation of duties

- **It is your own timesheet.** With **Allow approving your own timesheet** off, nobody signs off on their own hours.
- **You entered time on it.** With **Require a different approver** on, whoever entered hours on an employee's behalf cannot approve that timesheet.

What to do: ask the employee's backup approver or an administrator to approve it. Both switches are in **Company Setup → Company settings → Compliance**, and both compliance presets set them to the strict position on purpose. See [Compliance presets and settings](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/dcaa-compliance/compliance-presets-and-settings).

## The timesheet belongs to another team

A Supervisor can only approve the timesheets of employees who have them as **Approver** or **Backup approver**. If you should be approving this person, ask an admin to assign you on their row in **Company Setup → Employees**. See [Approvers and supervisors](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/timesheet-approvals/approvers-and-supervisors).

## Other things to check

- **The timesheet is Open.** The employee has not submitted it yet. With **Require employee certification before approval** on, it has to be submitted first.
- **The timesheet is Locked.** The period was posted by Labor Distribution. See [Reopening a payroll period or timesheet](https://www.usewisecost.com/help/timesheet-approvals/reopening-a-closed-period).

The same rules apply to bulk actions: if some of the selected timesheets cannot be approved, WiseCost explains why for those.