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HMRC is issuing a reminder that there is no longer a PAYE paper filing option for small employers with fewer than 50 staff.

From May 2010, the tax office is also introducing new penalties for late payment of PAYE. This includes income tax, national insurance contributions (NICs), student loan deductions and construction industry scheme deductions.

Stephen Banyard, director of the business customer unit at HMRC, says: ‘Major changes to PAYE filing and payment are only a matter of weeks away, so employers need to make sure they’re well prepared for them. We will be writing to affected employers over the coming weeks.’

The PAYE deadline is 19 May.  Employers must register with HMRC to file online, while smaller businesses can use HMRC’s free software to file their employee data securely online.

Employers who think they may have difficulty paying should call HMRC’s Business Payment Support Service on 0845 302 1435. If HMRC agrees time to pay, it will not charge late payment penalties.

More information on the new penalties can be found on the HMRC website.

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