Starting from this week, we will be writing to employers and pension providers to formally notify them that they must start reporting PAYE in real time (sometimes known as Real Time Information or RTI) to HMRC from their first payday on or after 6 April 2013, and to help them prepare for this change.
The letters will continue to be sent throughout February 2013 and are going out now so that employers who have not yet taken action still have time to get ready to send their PAYE to HMRC in real time.
The letters make it clear that employers should have plans to update or acquire new RTI-ready payroll software by now - and spoken to their software provider, or payroll bureau, or agent if they have one. We all leave things to the last minute, but now it is time to act. If they have not done this yet, employers need to do it straight away to ensure they are ready. All the information they need is on our website. Feedback from employers in the pilot is that reporting PAYE in real time is easy.
We have also included a checklist which explains the key steps employers need to take before April 2013 to make sure they are ready for reporting PAYE in real time from 6 April 2013. The letter and the checklist direct employers to the HMRC website for more information.
We are not sending these letters to employers who are already reporting in real time or where we have specified an alternative date for starting to report in real time.
For more information visit our RTI internet page at hmrc.gov.uk/rti.
