Guidance

First time users: install and set up Basic PAYE Tools

Find step-by-step help to install Basic PAYE Tools onto your computer and set up employer and employee details.

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This guide will help you install Basic PAYE Tools and add an employer and employees to the tool.

All Basic PAYE Tools user guides are updated only when there are major changes to the tools. They may not be updated yearly.

As an employer you must register with HMRC for PAYE Online before you use Basic PAYE Tools to run your payroll calculations and submissions.

Published 12 June 2014

Last updated 2717 ~~February~~April 2025 ~~+ show~~ href="#full-history">+ show all updates

17 April 2025
Instructions to open the Welsh version and accessible version of the tool have been added.

27 February 2025
Instructions to download the tools have been removed as this is covered in the linked guide 'Download HMRC's Basic PAYE Tools'.
18 January 2023
The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2022 to 2023 year.
22 April 2021
The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2021 to 2022 year.
5 May 2020
The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2020 to 2021 year.
27 March 2020
Information about where you can find your Accounts Office reference has been updated.
18 April 2019
The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2019 to 2020 year.
6 April 2018
Annual updates for 2018 to 2019 have been carried out.
6 April 2017
Annual updates for 2017 to 2018 have been carried out.
6 April 2016
Updated guidance available.
2 April 2015
This document has been updated due to changes in guidance from April 2015, such as removal of temporary SCON and introduction of Shared Parental Pay and annual uprating.
12 June 2014
First published.