UK

UK

Guides, reviews, comparisons, and compliance resources for UK payroll software and statutory obligations.

Which UK Payroll Software Should You Review?

Sage Payroll Review

In-depth review of Sage Payroll covering pricing, RTI filing, auto enrolment, P60 production, and suitability for small and mid-size UK businesses.

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Xero Payroll Review

Full review of Xero Payroll: auto enrolment, HMRC RTI, leave management, and how it integrates with Xero’s accounting platform.

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BrightPay Review

Detailed review of BrightPay covering its bureau-first design, automatic enrolment, HMRC integration, and employee self-service portal.

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Moorepay Review

Review of Moorepay’s managed payroll service: HR integration, compliance support, dedicated account management, and pricing transparency.

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Cintra Review

Review of Cintra Payroll: complex pay rule handling, HMRC compliance, HR module depth, and fit for mid-market and enterprise UK employers.

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IRIS Payroll Review

Review of IRIS Payroll covering its accountant-focused design, RTI submission, year-end automation, and bureau edition capabilities.

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KashFlow Payroll Review

Review of KashFlow Payroll: HMRC-recognised software, auto enrolment, payslip delivery, and integration with KashFlow accounting.

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FreeAgent Payroll Review

Review of FreeAgent Payroll for freelancers and micro-businesses: RTI filing, director salary runs, and accounting integration.

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Staffology Review

Review of Staffology by IRIS: API-first architecture, white-label options, auto enrolment, and suitability for bureaux and growing businesses.

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Moneysoft Review

Review of Moneysoft Payroll Manager: bureau-grade compliance, RTI, CIS, and value-for-money positioning for accountants and small employers.

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What Does UK Payroll Software Cost?

Sage Payroll Pricing

Sage Payroll pricing plans broken down by employee count, Essentials vs Professional tiers, and what each plan includes for HMRC compliance.

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Xero Payroll Pricing

Xero Payroll is bundled into Xero’s accounting plans. See what you pay per employee, which plans include payroll, and how it compares.

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BrightPay Pricing

BrightPay pricing per employer and per employee, annual licence costs, Connect add-on fees, and bureau pricing for accountants.

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Moorepay Pricing

Moorepay pricing structure for managed payroll: per-payslip fees, minimum spend thresholds, and how to get a like-for-like quote.

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UK Payroll Software Comparisons

Sage vs Xero Payroll

Head-to-head: pricing, RTI reliability, auto enrolment depth, and which is better for accountants, SMEs, and growing teams.

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Sage vs BrightPay

Compare Sage and BrightPay on price, bureau suitability, HMRC compliance tools, and employee self-service capabilities.

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Xero vs BrightPay

Xero Payroll versus BrightPay: accounting integration, auto enrolment, pricing, and which works better for small UK businesses.

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Sage vs Moorepay

Self-managed Sage payroll versus Moorepay’s outsourced service: cost, compliance burden, and when to switch from DIY to managed.

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Xero vs FreeAgent

Xero and FreeAgent payroll compared for freelancers and micro-businesses: features, accounting integration, and total cost.

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IRIS vs Sage Payroll

IRIS Payroll versus Sage for UK accountants and bureaux: compliance depth, CIS support, bureau editions, and switching considerations.

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Which UK Payroll Software Alternatives Fit You?

Sage Payroll Alternatives

The best alternatives to Sage Payroll for UK businesses: shortlisted by price, compliance features, and migration complexity.

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Xero Payroll Alternatives

Alternatives to Xero Payroll ranked for UK employers: standalone payroll tools, bureau options, and accounting-integrated alternatives.

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Which UK Payroll Guide Do You Need?

UK Payroll Software

How to choose UK payroll software: what to look for in RTI compliance, auto enrolment, CIS, and integration with your accounting tools.

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Small Business Payroll

Payroll for UK small businesses: running your first payroll, PAYE registration, P60s, and keeping HMRC submissions on time.

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UK Payroll Compliance

UK payroll compliance essentials: RTI deadlines, NIC thresholds, statutory payments, year-end obligations, and penalty triggers.

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UK Payroll Outsourcing

When to outsource payroll in the UK: cost comparison with in-house, what managed payroll includes, and how to evaluate bureaux.

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UK Payroll Providers

Overview of the UK payroll provider market: software vendors, managed service bureaux, and accountant-led outsourcing options.

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UK Payroll Year End

Step-by-step UK payroll year-end checklist: P60 production, P11D deadlines, final FPS and EPS submissions, and HMRC reconciliation.

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UK Payroll for Contractors

Payroll options for UK contractors: umbrella companies, limited company payroll, IR35 implications, and CIS deductions explained.

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Limited Company Payroll

Running payroll through a UK limited company: director salary, dividends, NIC efficiency, auto enrolment obligations, and HMRC filing.

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Directors Payroll

Payroll for UK company directors: optimal salary levels, NIC exemptions, RTI reporting for directors, and year-end considerations.

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How Do PAYE, NIC and Statutory Payments Work?

PAYE Explained

How PAYE works in the UK: tax codes, income tax bands, how HMRC calculates deductions, and what employers must submit and when.

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Real Time Information (RTI)

RTI explained: what Full Payment Submissions and Employer Payment Summaries are, submission deadlines, and penalties for late filing.

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Employer NIC

Employer National Insurance Contributions: current rates, the secondary threshold, Employment Allowance eligibility, and NIC on benefits.

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Statutory Sick Pay

SSP rates, eligibility rules, waiting days, how to process SSP through payroll, and what happens when SSP entitlement runs out.

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Statutory Maternity Pay

SMP rates, the 90% earnings rule, recovery from HMRC, contractual enhancements, and payroll processing for maternity leave.

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Holiday Entitlement

UK statutory holiday entitlement: 5.6 weeks, bank holiday rules, calculating entitlement for part-time workers, and holiday pay in payroll.

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National Minimum Wage

Current NMW and NLW rates by age band, apprentice rates, effective dates, and how HMRC investigates underpayment complaints.

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Student Loan Deductions

Plan 1, 2, 4 and postgraduate loan thresholds, how to process start and stop notices, and what to do when a new employee has multiple plans.

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HMRC Penalties

UK payroll penalty guide: late RTI filing charges, payment deadlines, interest on underpayments, and how to appeal HMRC penalty notices.

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How Do Benefits, Expenses and Salary Packaging Work?

P11D Guide

What goes on a P11D, which benefits are exempt, Class 1A NIC calculations, submission deadlines, and how to use payrolling of benefits.

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P45 & P60 Guide

When to issue P45s and P60s, what they contain, employer obligations, how to reissue lost forms, and digital delivery rules.

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Benefits in Kind

Taxable benefits in kind: company cars, private medical, loans, and accommodation. How to report, tax, and NIC treatment for each.

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Salary Sacrifice

How salary sacrifice works in UK payroll: pension contributions, cycle-to-work, EVs, childcare vouchers, and NIC savings for employers.

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How Do Workplace Pensions Work?

Auto Enrolment Pensions

Auto enrolment duties for UK employers: staging, eligible jobholders, contribution minimums, re-enrolment cycles, and TPR compliance.

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Pension Auto Enrolment Providers

Comparison of UK workplace pension providers for auto enrolment: NEST, The People’s Pension, Smart Pension, NOW: Pensions, and more.

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How Do Contractors and IR35 Work?

IR35

IR35 explained: off-payroll working rules, inside vs outside IR35, the status determination statement, and HMRC compliance checks.

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Off-Payroll Working

Off-payroll working rules for medium and large businesses: client responsibilities, CEST tool, and fee-payer NIC obligations.

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Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)

CIS explained: contractor and subcontractor registration, deduction rates, monthly returns, and how to offset CIS against PAYE liabilities.

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Umbrella Companies

How umbrella companies work for UK contractors: PAYE employment model, margin deductions, holiday pay handling, and what to watch for.

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Agency Worker Regulations

AWR rights for agency workers: the 12-week qualifying period, equal pay and conditions, day-one rights, and employer obligations.

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Apprenticeship Levy

Who pays the apprenticeship levy, how to calculate your liability, accessing levy funds via the apprenticeship service, and co-investment rules.

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What Do UK Payroll Terms Mean?

What Is PAYE?

A plain-English explanation of Pay As You Earn: how tax and NIC are deducted from employee wages before they are paid.

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What Is NIC?

National Insurance Contributions explained: employee and employer rates, thresholds, and how NIC builds entitlement to state benefits.

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What Is P11D?

P11D forms explained: which benefits trigger a return, how to value them, and the Class 1A NIC employers must pay by July.

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What Is RTI?

Real Time Information explained: why HMRC introduced it, what FPS and EPS submissions contain, and the consequences of missed filings.

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What Is CIS?

The Construction Industry Scheme explained: who it applies to, how deductions work, and how subcontractors reclaim overpaid tax.

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What Is IR35?

IR35 in plain English: why it exists, how HMRC determines disguised employment, and what it means for contractors and their clients.

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What Is Auto Enrolment?

Workplace pension auto enrolment explained: who is automatically enrolled, contribution rates, and opt-out rights for employees.

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What Is Salary Sacrifice?

Salary sacrifice explained: how employees exchange gross pay for benefits, the NIC savings for both parties, and HMRC approved arrangements.

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