Five tips for Payroll Year End (PYE) 2026

April 2026 is quickly approaching – the pressure of Payroll Year End (PYE) is likely creeping in.

With tight deadlines and admin-heavy processes, it’s no wonder Payroll Year End often feels overwhelming.

What if this year could be different?

To help you minimise the stress of Payroll Year End 2026, we’ve pulled together five handy tips.

Tip one: understand the key dates

When it comes to surviving Payroll Year End, knowing the key dates is half the battle, as missing them can lead to penalties.

Here are the most important dates to mark in your calendar and set reminders for:

• 5 April: the Tax Year End – all payroll records for the preceding year must be finalised by this date 
• 6 April: the new Tax Year begins – your payroll software must be updated, and new tax codes and thresholds applied 
• On or before your employees’ payday: send your final Full Payment Submission (FPS) payroll report of the year 
• By 19 April: the final statutory deadline for submitting the end-of-year FPS and any Employer Payment Summary (EPS) reports for the tax year just ended 
• By 31 May: the deadline to give your current employees their P60 
• By 6 July: report employee expenses and benefits by submitting P11D and P11D(b) forms if they aren’t being processed through payroll 
• By 19 July: pay Class 1A NIC on P11D benefits via post 
• By 22 July: pay Class 1A NIC on P11D benefits electronically

Add these dates to your calendar, set reminders or scribble them down on a sticky note – whatever works for you, just make sure they stay front-of-mind!

Tip two: get your data in shape

Accurate data forms the foundation for a smooth Payroll Year End.

Errors now become headaches later.

Before processing your final pay run, take the time to audit your employee records and running totals.

Next, determine if there have been any changes to your workforce over the past year, such as:

• New hires
• Leavers
• Adjustments to benefits

If your record-keeping has been consistent, this step should be straightforward.

But if you’re relying on spreadsheets or juggling data across multiple systems, things can get tricky.

More content: Payroll Year End (PYE) 2026 – addressing common pitfalls

Read here

Tips for reviewing your data

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to reviewing your data quality, here are some questions to help guide your data review:

• Do you have any former employees still on record?
• Have all deductions been processed?
• Have all non-payroll benefits been included and calculated?

Top tip: use HMRC-recognised payroll software to streamline your data management – the right system can handle calculations, maintain accurate records and ensure compliance, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors.

Tip three: submit your final FPS and EPS with care

Don’t rush this step.

Your final Full Payment Submission (FPS) and Employer Payment Summary (EPS) are critical steps in the PYE process.

These submissions provide HMRC with the last pieces of information for the tax year, so it’s essential to get them right the first time.

Errors can be difficult to correct later, so double-check everything before hitting ‘submit’.

Tip four: stay on top of legislative changes

Payroll legislation is constantly evolving, and staying informed is key to avoiding penalties and ensuring compliance.

The Government’s website is a reliable resource for legislative updates, but payroll software providers can also make your life easier; for example, providers, like IRIS, automatically update their systems to reflect the latest changes, helping you stay compliant without the manual effort.

Top tip: look out for webinars from reputable providers, covering major legislative updates and offering practical advice.

Tip five: nail the basics

Sometimes, the best strategy is to go back to basics.

Make sure you’ve covered these essentials:

• Staff details: are all employee records accurate and up to date?
• Pay details: have you reported all staff pay correctly?
• Final pay run: process your last pay run on or before 5 April 2026, and check your employees’ year-to-date figures
• Leavers: have you processed any leavers to ensure their information is recorded in the correct tax year?
• Extra payroll weeks: if you run a weekly payroll, you may need to complete an additional pay run
• Final submission: submit your final FPS or EPS to finalise figures for the tax year
• P60s: distribute P60s to all employees

Ready to Tackle Payroll Year End 2026?

Payroll Year End doesn’t have to be a source of stress.

With preparation, you can navigate PYE with confidence and ease.

Looking for more guidance? Download our 2026 Payroll Year End Survival Guide for more expert tips and advice.

The Payroll Year End (PYE) Survival Guide 2026

Download here