Let me start by listing the documents and looking up the reference tables.

Interesting — the lookup_reference returns rows with "months" arrays that are unusual: first-half covers 2026-01 through 2026-06? It says months: ["2026-01", "2026-06"] — that likely means the range from 2026-01 to 2026-06. Second-half: 2026-07 to 2026-12.

Now read the payroll document.

The payroll month is 2025-07, which is outside 2026. Per R1, only 2026 is covered; dates outside 2026 require clarification under R7. So decision: clarify, reason_code: NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE, citing R1 and R7.

Wait — check the order of checks in R7:
1. Missing gross_pay — no, gross_pay is present ("2246.04").
2. Missing payroll_month — no, present ("2025-07").
3. A month without a reference row: NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE, citing R1 and R7. Do not extrapolate an old row.

2025-07 has no reference row (only 2026 covered). So clarify with NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE.

Allowed deduction present is structurally valid (103.13 ≤ 400.00 cap), but per R4, "When the month or applicable row is absent, accept structurally valid deductions up to the largest reference deduction cap for task validation, but do not calculate a payslip or assume a reference row." So no payslip.

Answer fields: decision: "clarify", reason_code: "NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE", clauses: ["R1", "R7"], plus optional explanation.

Do not include monetary fields. Output one JSON object without Markdown fences or surrounding prose.

Let me start by listing the documents to get the case inputs.

The payroll month is 2025-07. Only 2026 is covered per R1. So this requires clarification: NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE, citing R1 and R7.

Wait — but let me check the reference tables. R1 says "Only 2026 is covered. Dates outside 2026 require clarification under R7." But also, "A case may include an authoritative reference_tables schedule for first-half and second-half. When supplied, its numeric values replace the defaults above for that case only." The schedule is available only through lookup_reference in tool mode. Let me check lookup_reference to see if the schedule covers 2025-07. The reference rows have effective months — maybe the case schedule covers months beyond 2026? Let me check both halves to see effective months.

Actually, R1 says "Select the reference row below using the payroll month... Only 2026 is covered." But the case may include an authoritative schedule. Let me look up both halves to see what months are covered.

The reference rows cover only 2026 months: first-half covers 2026-01 through 2026-06, second-half covers 2026-07 through 2026-12. The payroll month is 2025-07, which is outside 2026. Per R1 and R7(3), a month without a reference row requires clarification with reason_code "NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE". Do not extrapolate an old row.

So the answer is a clarify decision:
- decision: "clarify"
- reason_code: "NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE"
- clauses: ["R1", "R7"]
- explanation: short, naming the unresolved blocker (payroll month 2025-07 is not covered by any reference row; only 2026 is covered) and asking for its resolution.

No calculated monetary fields. The allowed_deduction present is fine but we don't calculate.

Let me start by listing the documents to see what inputs we have.

The payroll month is 2025-07. The rules say only 2026 is covered. Dates outside 2026 require clarification under R7. Let me check the reference tables to confirm — lookup_reference only covers first-half and second-half. Let me check both to see the covered months.

The payroll month is 2025-07. The reference rows only cover 2026-01 through 2026-12. So 2025-07 has no applicable reference row. Per R7 item 3: "A month without a reference row: return decision: 'clarify' and reason_code: 'NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE', citing R1 and R7. Do not extrapolate an old row."

Also R1 says "Only 2026 is covered. Dates outside 2026 require clarification under R7."

So the answer is clarify with reason_code NO_APPLICABLE_REFERENCE, citing R1 and R7. Do not return calculated monetary fields. The clarify format uses decision, reason_code, clauses, and an optional explanation string naming the unresolved blocker and asking for its resolution.