In this section:
- PAYE: end of tax year checklist
- Finalising form P11 at the end of the tax year
- Completing the Employer Annual Return: P14s and P35
- A-Z list of expenses and benefits: short guidance
- Completing form P11D
- Completing form P9D
- Completing form P11D(b)
- Dispensation from expenses and benefits reporting
- Correcting PAYE errors
- Correcting errors in expenses and benefits reporting
- PAYE dates to remember this month
- PAYE Online login page
PAYE: end of tax year checklist
If you operate PAYE (Pay As You Earn) there are key actions you need to take before the end of the tax year - 5 April - and key deadlines you need to meet after it. Any returns not received by the required deadlines will be subject to penalty payments and interest will be charged on any late tax or National Insurance contributions (NICs) payments.
We recommend that you file your returns online and make payments electronically (some larger employers must already do this).
Please note that where a payment deadline falls on a weekend or is a bank holiday, your cleared payment or cheque must reach us on the previous bank working day. The payment deadlines below have been adjusted to take account of non bank working days in 2008.
On this page:
- Employer tasks before 5 April
- Employer tasks and deadlines after 5 April
- PAYE deadlines - interactive tool
- Online help with end of year PAYE
- More useful links
Employer tasks before 5 April
Set up a new P11 Deductions Working Sheet for each employee
Before the end of the tax year, you'll need to set up a new P11 Deductions Working Sheet or equivalent for each relevant employee.
- If you use commercial payroll software or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) P11 Calculator on the Employer CD-Rom you'll be able to carry across the details for existing employees automatically.
- If you're using a paper form P11 you'll need to order copies of the P11 for the new tax year from the Employer Orderline. You can order online or by phone or fax.
Order forms P11 through the Employer Orderline
When setting up your new P11 details make sure you use the following:
- the updated version of your payroll software or the Employer CD-Rom - containing the very latest rates and thresholds (updates are normally issued in February)
- the latest form P11 if using paper methods
- any new tax codes received for use from the start of the new tax year - notified on forms P9(T) or P9X - or sometimes P6
- the latest PAYE/NICs tables if using paper methods
Read our related guidance below to find out when and how to get all of these.
Start of tax year codes and forms
Employer tasks and deadlines after 5 April
5 April onwards - finalise end of year returns and forms
As soon as possible after 5 April, finalise each employee's P11 for the past tax year and collate the figures into your Employer Annual Return (forms P14 and P35).
If you use payroll software or HMRC's P11 Calculator tool on the Employer CD-Rom most or all of this process will be done for you automatically. To find out more, including what you'll need to do if you complete a paper P11, follow the links.
Finalising form P11 at the end of the tax year
Completing the Employer Annual Return: P14s and P35
18 April 2008 - final deadline PAYE tax and Class 1 NICs (postal payments)
This is the final date for postal payments of any outstanding PAYE tax and NICs for the tax year ending 5 April 2008 to reach HMRC. Interest will be charged on any payments received after this date - and a surcharge in the case of employers who are subject to the mandatory electronic payment rules.
Follow the link below to read more about ways to pay - including the benefits of paying electronically.
22 April 2008 - final deadline PAYE tax and Class 1 NICs (electronic payments)
If you're paying via an approved electronic method this is the last date for any outstanding PAYE and Class 1 NICs payments for the tax year ending 5 April 2008 to be cleared in our bank.
Interest will be charged on any payments received after this date. A surcharge will also apply in the case of late payments from large employers (250 or more employees) who are subject to the mandatory electronic payment rules.
Follow the links to read more about ways to pay, and interest or surcharges on late payments.
Making PAYE/National Insurance payments to HMRC
Check interest rate charges on late PAYE/NICs payments
Read about late payment surcharges for large employees
19 May 2008 - Employer Annual Return forms P14s/P35 final deadline
This is the latest date for receipt of your Employer Annual Return (P14 or substitutes and P35) for the tax year ending 5 April 2008.
If filing online you must do so by midnight. Penalties are chargeable on any returns received after this date.
The quickest and easiest method is to file online using either your own software or HMRC's PAYE Online service. Employers with 50 or more employees must file forms P14/P35 returns online now. If you have fewer than 50 employees you have until at least April 2010 to do so but you can claim tax-free payments if you file online sooner.
Completing Employer Annual Returns P14 and P35
PAYE Online filing for employers
Employer deadlines for filing PAYE online
31 May 2008 - P60 deadline
This is the last date for giving a form P60 End of year certificate for the tax year to 5 April 2008 to each employee who was working for you at that date. If you file online you'll be able to print one off.
Finalising form P11 at the end of the tax year
Read about employer deadlines for filing PAYE forms online
6 July 2008 - forms P11D, P9D, P11D(b) final deadline
This is the last date for:
- your forms P9D and forms P11D or substitutes for the tax year ending 5 April 2008 to reach your HMRC office
- any return of Class 1A NICs on form P11D(b) for the tax year to 5 April 2008 to reach your HMRC office - penalties will be charged automatically on any returns not received by 19 July
- giving a copy of the form P9D, P11D or equivalent information for the tax year ending 5 April 2008 to each relevant employee
How to report expenses and benefits
18 July 2008 - Class 1A NICs payment deadline (postal methods)
This is the last date for postal payments of any outstanding Class 1A NICs for the tax year ending 5 April to be reach our bank account. Interest will be charged on any payments received after this date (and a surcharge in the case of employers who are subject to the mandatory electronic payment rules).
22 July 2008 - Class 1A NICs payment deadline (electronic methods)
This is the last date for payment of any Class 1A NICs due for the tax year ending 5 April to be cleared in our bank account if you pay by an approved electronic payment method. Interest will be charged on any payments received after this date (and a surcharge in the case of employers who are subject to the electronic payment rules).
Making PAYE/National Insurance payments to HMRC
Check interest rate charges on late PAYE/NICs payments
Read about late payment surcharges for large employees
18 October 2008 - deadline for receipt of tax and Class 1B NICs postal payments under a PAYE Settlement Agreement
If you have a PAYE Settlement Agreement with HMRC this is the final deadline for receipt of tax and Class 1B NICs due for the tax year ending 5 April 2008 if you pay by post. If the payment is late you may have to pay interest.
22 October 2008 - deadline for receipt of electronic payments of tax and Class 1B NICs under a PAYE Settlement Agreement
If you have a PAYE Settlement Agreement and pay using an approved method of electronic communication, this is the final deadline for payments of tax and Class 1B NICs due for the tax year ending 5 April 2008 to clear in our bank account. If the payment is late you may have to pay interest.
PAYE Settlement Agreements - learn more
Making PAYE/National Insurance payments to HMRC
Check interest rate charges on late PAYE/NICs payments
PAYE deadlines - interactive tool
Follow the link below to the Business Link website where you can create a calendar of your key tax deadlines for the next 12 months. You can also sign up to receive regular email alerts as each date approaches.
Create a calendar of PAYE deadlines on the Business Link website
Online help with end of year PAYE
If you have question about end of year PAYE you can send us an email and we'll reply within two working days
End of year PAYE queries - send an email
More useful links
Employer helpbook E10 'Finishing
the tax year up to 5 April'
Choosing a payroll system
Using the Employer CD-Rom P11 Calculator
