Payroll year end: What you need to do now

With the payroll year ending on 5 April, now’s the time to make sure everything is wrapped up properly and you’re ready to hit the ground running in the new tax year.

Payroll year end can feel like a lot to juggle - submissions, reconciliations, employee forms, legislation changes, but with a clear plan (and the right software), it doesn’t have to be stressful.

Here’s what you should be focusing on now.

1. Check your payroll data is accurate

Before you make your final submissions, review:

1. Employee details (names, addresses, NI numbers)
2. Tax codes
3. Student loan and postgraduate loan deductions
4. Statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP etc.)
5. Pension contributions

Mistakes at this stage can cause delays, corrections and unnecessary contact with HMRC later on. A quick audit now can save time and hassle.

2. Submit your final FPS or EPS

You’ll need to submit your final Full Payment Submission (FPS) on or before your last payday of the tax year. If you need to reclaim statutory payments or declare CIS deductions suffered, you may also need to submit an Employer Payment Summary (EPS).

Make sure you indicate that it’s your final submission for the year and confirm whether you’ll be continuing to pay employees in the new tax year.

3. Issue P60s to employees

All employees who are still on your payroll on 5 April must receive a P60 by 31 May. This summarises their total pay and deductions for the year and is essential for things like mortgage applications and tax returns.

Your payroll software should make generating and distributing P60s straightforward, whether printed or securely emailed.

4. Review P11D requirements

If you’ve provided employees with benefits in kind (such as company cars or private medical insurance), you’ll need to prepare P11Ds and submit them to HMRC by 6 July.

It’s worth checking now what needs reporting so you’re not scrambling later in the summer.

5. Prepare for the new tax year

Payroll year end isn’t just about closing off the old year; it’s about being ready for the next one.

From 6 April, you’ll need to:

1. Apply new tax codes
2. Update tax thresholds and NI bands
3. Check statutory pay rates
4. Review National Minimum Wage increases
5. Confirm pension auto-enrolment thresholds

Keeping up with legislation changes can be time-consuming, particularly for small businesses without a dedicated payroll team.

How the right payroll software makes year end easier

Managing payroll shouldn’t be complicated.

MyPAYE is cloud-based payroll software designed specifically for small businesses. It handles legislative updates automatically, so you don’t have to manually adjust tax tables or worry about compliance changes each April.

Because it’s fully RTI-compliant, you can submit:

1. Full Payment Submissions (FPS)
2. Employer Payment Summaries (EPS)
3. Earlier year updates
4. National Insurance Number verifications

all online, directly to HMRC.

Built for real-world payroll MyPAYE includes:

1. Calculation of all forms of statutory pay
2. Pension auto-enrolment assessment and reporting
3. Secure payslip production with optional email delivery
4. Automatic retrieval of HMRC notices (tax coding, student loan and more)
5. The ability to run multiple payrolls (weekly, monthly, quarterly, directors, by department or cost centre)
6. Optional CIS functionality with online verification and filing

There’s no software to install, no backups to manage and no desktop limitations, just secure cloud access when you need it.

If you’re switching systems ahead of the new tax year, the Employee Importer tool allows for simple Excel uploads to get you up and running quickly.

A timely opportunity for accountants and bureaux

With the new payroll year starting on 6 April 2026, this is also a key moment for accountants, bookkeepers and payroll bureaux to review their payroll offering.

The MyPAYE Agency Partner Programme is designed to help practices manage multiple client payrolls efficiently. For a fixed annual fee, partners receive:

1. Discounted partner rates
2. A single dashboard to manage all client payrolls
3. A branded portal
4. Full RTI-compliant payroll with pensions and auto-enrolment included

Joining before April means you’ll be fully set up and ready for the new tax year from day one.

Don’t leave it to the last minute

Payroll year end doesn’t need to be a headache. With the right checks in place and software that keeps you compliant automatically, it can be a smooth transition into the new tax year.

If you’re reviewing your payroll processes or considering a change before April, now’s the ideal time to explore your options. You can also read more about common payroll challenges and how payroll software helps to make year-end simpler.

Start your free trial today and see how cloud software can make life easier by calling the team on 0161 413 5050 to find out more.