Act now on RTI, warns HMRC chief

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been writing to more than 1.4 million employers to its launch Real Time Information (RTI) awareness campaign.

The letters, which went out during October, provided  information on what employers need to do to prepare for the new way of reporting PAYE data starting in April 2013.

From April, employers will need to send PAYE data electronically to HMRC each time they pay their employees as part of routine payroll processes rather than submitting a separate return at the end of the year. Returns will include details of all employees’ pay, tax and deductions.

HMRC’s director general Ruth Owen said: “April 2013, when Real Time Information becomes a reality, is now less than six months away.

“The letters going out to employers include a useful help sheet, which tells them what to do to get ready for the change. Employers should read that and take action such as speaking to their payroll software provider or payroll service provider and checking their employee data is accurate.

“Employers in the pilot who are already using RTI are telling us how straightforward and easy to use it is once you prepare.”

Link: RTI guidance