Payroll & Compliance

Payroll and Compliance for Your First Employee

Payroll processing and compliance support for when you take on your first employee, so wages, tax and National Insurance go out correctly and on time.

Get a Free Quote Talk to an Expert
Two colleagues celebrating with a high five at an office desk
Every paydayPay, payslips and HMRC report

Your First Hire

Hiring makes your company an employer

Taking on your first employee means registering with HMRC as an employer, reporting pay every payday and paying the tax and National Insurance you deduct on time. There are pension duties from the first day someone starts work, too.

Payroll is reported to HMRC online, so it runs the same way whether you live in the UK or not.

Get a Free Quote See the payroll year

How We Help

Wages, tax and National Insurance, correctly and on time

The parts of running payroll that UK employers are responsible for.

  • Employer registration

    Registering your company as an employer with HMRC before your first payday, to get your employer PAYE reference.

  • Payroll processing

    Working out pay, tax and National Insurance for each payday, with payslips issued on or before payday.

  • Reporting to HMRC

    Each employee’s pay and deductions reported to HMRC on or before every payday.

  • PAYE payments

    Knowing what you owe HMRC each month and when it is due, so payments aren’t missed.

  • Workplace pensions

    Meeting automatic enrolment duties for staff who qualify, from the day your first employee starts.

  • Year end

    End-of-year reporting, P60s for your employees and reporting expenses and benefits.

The payroll year at a glance

From registering as an employer to the year-end deadlines.

  1. Before first payday

    Register as employer

    Register before your first payday, and no more than 2 months before you start paying people.

  2. First day of work

    Pension duties start

    Enrol staff aged 22 to State Pension age who earn at least £10,000 a year and normally work in the UK.

  3. Every payday

    Pay and report

    Pay staff, give payslips and report pay and deductions to HMRC on or before payday.

  4. By the 22nd

    Pay HMRC

    Pay PAYE and National Insurance by the 22nd of the next tax month, or quarterly if you owe less than £1,500 a month.

  5. 31 May & 6 July

    Year end

    P60s to employees by 31 May; expenses and benefits reported by 6 July.

Tax months run from the 6th of one month to the 5th of the next. Payments posted by cheque must reach HMRC by the 19th. Sources: GOV.UK employer guidance, checked October 2026.

Got Questions?

Payroll & Compliance Questions

When does my company need to register as an employer?

Before the first payday, to get your employer PAYE reference number, and not more than 2 months before you start paying people. You need to register for PAYE if, for example, an employee is paid £96 or more a week or gets expenses or benefits.

When do I pay PAYE and National Insurance to HMRC?

By the 22nd of the next tax month if you pay monthly. If you expect to pay less than £1,500 a month, you can arrange to pay quarterly, by the 22nd after the end of each quarter. Cheques sent by post must reach HMRC by the 19th.

Do I have to give employees payslips?

Yes. Payslips must be provided on or before payday and show pay before and after deductions, the deductions that can change each time, such as tax and National Insurance, and the hours worked if pay varies with time worked.

Do I have to offer a workplace pension?

Yes, for staff who qualify. You must enrol and pay an employer contribution for staff aged 22 up to State Pension age who earn at least £10,000 a year and normally work in the UK. Your duties start on the day your first member of staff begins work.

Can my UK payroll be run if I live outside the UK?

Yes. Pay and deductions are reported to HMRC online, so payroll for your UK company can be run for you wherever you live.

Related Services

Have a Query in Mind?

Get a Free Consultation

Call or message our team before you apply if you want to confirm which package fits, what ID verification involves, or whether you need Apostille and attestation support for your country.

Request a Free Quote Email the Expert