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Payroll help for UK employers

Find a clear answer, check a deadline or work through your next payroll task.

Learn payroll step by step

A free course you can follow at your own pace.

Useful starting points

Practical resources to help with everyday payroll tasks.

2026/27 UK payroll calendar

Monthly RTI, PAYE, P60 and P11D deadlines.

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New employer payroll setup: register for PAYE

Decide who belongs on payroll, register the correct employer for PAYE and continue to first-payday setup.

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HMRC Basic PAYE Tools guide

Set up an employer, add employees, run payroll, send FPS or EPS, keep records and back up local data.

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Employer leaver checklist

Manage resignation, final pay, P45 and offboarding controls.

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No-pay month: FPS or EPS?

What to report when nobody is paid in an HMRC tax month.

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Holiday pay records compliance tracker

Audit annual-leave and holiday-pay records, then download a free six-year Excel or CSV tracker.

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Learn at your own pace

Build your payroll knowledge

Twelve practical lessons, from setting up PAYE to year end. Start at the beginning or open the lesson you need.

Part 1Set up payroll correctly

Understand the system, register PAYE and choose a controlled payroll method.

  1. 1How UK payroll works: the complete employer cycle18 min
  2. 2New employer payroll setup: register for PAYE24 min
  3. 3Choose a payroll method and complete setup28 min
Part 2Set up employees and pay

Add starters, assess pensions and understand gross pay, deductions and net pay.

  1. 4Add a new starter correctly26 min
  2. 5Understand workplace pensions and automatic enrolment28 min
  3. 6Build gross pay from approved inputs26 min
  4. 7Understand deductions and net pay28 min
Part 3Complete a pay run

Gather inputs, check payroll, pay employees, report through RTI and settle HMRC.

  1. 8Calculate, review and approve a payroll run30 min
  2. 9Produce payslips, pay employees and send FPS28 min
  3. 10Send EPS, reconcile and pay HMRC28 min
Part 4Maintain payroll correctly

Handle changes, leavers, corrections and the transition into a new tax year.

  1. 11Handle payroll changes, leavers and corrections34 min
  2. 12Complete payroll year end and start the new tax year34 min

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Payroll Basics

Guidance you can check

Our guides link to GOV.UK, HMRC and The Pensions Regulator where relevant. Check each guide’s sources and review date, especially for an unusual situation.

See the payroll process in practice

Explore how Workmax connects employee information, approved hours and payroll checks.

Explore the interactive payroll demo →