Payroll
Payroll New Year
- Check you are using the correct version.
Before you start processing the new tax year, you must have installed the update for the 2024/25 tax year, V31.00.231, if you process a NHS Pension scheme, ensure you have installed background update to V31.00.236 and enter the new NHS pension legislation.
- Update your employees’ tax codes.
For the 2025/26 tax year, the personal allowance and emergency tax code remains the same at £12,570 and 1257L. This means you do not need to change your employees’ tax codes unless informed by HMRC. You do however need to remove the week 1 / month 1 flag on any employees’ tax codes before processing in the new tax year.
- Small employers’ relief
If you are eligible for Small Employers’ Relief (SER) you need to set your Sage Payroll to calculate and claim it.
- Click Company then
- Select the Eligible for Small Employers’ Relief check box.
- Click OK
- Apply for Employment Allowance
TIP: make sure your process date is set to 6/04/2025 before completing this.
In the 2025/26 tax year the employment allowance has increased to £10,500. This allows eligible employers to reduce their annual Employers National Insurance liability by up to £10,500.
Submit the Employer Payment Summary (EPS) for Employment Allowance
- Click Company, then click Settings.
- Click the Apply for EA
- From the State Aid drop-down menu, select one of the following options:
- Applicable
- Not Applicable
If State Aid is applicable, select the relevant State Aid Sector. For more information on State aid, visit Gov.uk.
- Click Submit then click Continue, then click Submit then Submit
At this stage, HMRC receives an EPS with Employment Allowance application.
- If your application is unsuccessful, you receive a notification in your IR Secure Mailbox within five working days.
- If you do not hear back from HMRC, then your application has been successful, and you can then select the Eligible for Employment Allowance check box within Company then Settings. Once you select this check box, your software is set up to calculate Employer Allowance.
Memo
If you select the Eligible for Employment Allowance check box after you have already processed one or more tax months, you must re-run your P32 for each month of the tax year starting from month 1. Sage 50 Payroll then calculated the Employment Allowance due in each period and records these values in Company Settings > HMRC Payments of your software.
- Pensions module
If you use the pension module, when you process the first period of the new tax year, you are prompted to check your pension contribution rates are correct.
Pensions Data Exchange
If you use the Pensions Data Exchange (PDX) to send data to your provider, there are some additional steps to complete at the start of the tax year.
- New legislation for 2025/2025 tax year
There are a few changes to payroll legislation in the new tax year, including a change to the National Minimum Wage from 1 April etc.
If you need help running your payroll year end routine or setting up for the new Payroll year or need any other help or advice with your payroll, please contact us
We can also provide a remote access service where we can link into your computer to help you resolve your Sage Accounts or Payroll problems.