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Learn UK Payroll with 12 Practical Lessons

Learn UK payroll from PAYE setup to recurring pay runs, deductions, HMRC reporting and year-end through 12 practical lessons.
Start lesson 1Search payroll topics
Learn payroll

Start the 12-lesson course

Follow payroll from PAYE setup through recurring pay runs and year-end.

Solve a problem

Find a payroll answer

Search practical references for FPS, RTI, P45s, deadlines and exceptions.

  1. 1Set up
  2. 2Prepare
  3. 3Calculate
  4. 4Pay and report
  5. 5Reconcile

Practical payroll course

12 practical lessons. From setting up PAYE to completing year-end.

Understand the process, provide the right information, check the results, meet deadlines and recognise when something is wrong.

Payroll journey

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1

Stage 1

Set up payroll correctly

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

  1. 1Available · 18 minHow UK payroll worksBuild a reliable mental model of UK payroll before running your first pay cycle.
  2. 2Available · 24 minCheck who belongs on payroll and register for PAYEDetermine who needs payroll treatment, whether your business needs PAYE registration and how to register safely.
  3. 3Available · 28 minChoose a payroll method and complete setupChoose an appropriate payroll operating model, configure the essential employer controls and prepare for a controlled first live payroll.
2

Stage 2

Set up employees and pay

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

  1. 4Available · 26 minAdd a new starter correctlyCollect, validate and protect the information needed for an employee’s first payroll and FPS.
  2. 5Available · 28 minUnderstand workplace pensions and automatic enrolmentAssess workers, choose the employer action, configure the scheme basis and retain evidence.
  3. 6Available · 26 minBuild gross pay from approved inputsTransform approved salary, hours and variable-pay records into a traceable gross-pay schedule.
  4. 7Available · 28 minUnderstand deductions and net payVerify pay bases, employee instructions, deduction destinations and net pay without recreating statutory calculations.
3

Stage 3

Complete a pay run

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

  1. 8Available · 30 minGather, calculate and check payrollProve the population is complete, calculate an immutable version and approve that exact result for payday.
  2. 9Available · 28 minProduce payslips, pay employees and send FPSTurn the approved payroll version into checked payslips, controlled employee payments and an accepted FPS.
  3. 10Available · 28 minSend EPS, reconcile and pay HMRCDecide whether EPS is required, reconcile accepted RTI to the HMRC account and verify settlement.
4

Stage 4

Maintain payroll correctly

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

  1. 11Available · 34 minHandle payroll changes, leavers and correctionsClassify changes, coordinate leavers and correct payroll without rewriting approved history.
  2. 12Available · 34 minComplete payroll year end and start the new tax yearReconcile the closing year, complete final reporting, issue P60s and validate the new-year opening.

Go deeper

Extension tracks

Explore specialist situations after you understand the core process.

Payroll Basics

Start with PAYE, employer registration, starter information and the shape of a normal payroll cycle.

Editorial standards

Check the rule, date and example.

Regulated guidance links to GOV.UK, HMRC or The Pensions Regulator and shows its review date and practical interpretation.

Reviewed by Workmax payroll team until a named specialist is verified.

Software comes second

Use the simplest controlled process that fits.

As employee numbers, pensions, statutory pay, locations or rota complexity increase, connected payroll controls become more useful.

See when Workmax may fit
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