Payroll Course
About the course
This course covers the entire payroll process: setup, running payroll, RTI (Real Time Information) submissions, holiday pay, deductions and reporting. Participants get practical examples of how ReAI automates statutory sick pay reporting and links payroll data to employer’s National Insurance contributions .
Preparation before attending
- Gather baseline data such as employment contracts, hours or part-time fractions and agreed basic salary for all employees.
- Confirm the business is registered as an employer with HMRC and has a designated PAYE tax account .
- Reconcile the holiday pay accrual against balance sheet figures to identify discrepancies before the course starts.
- Set up access controls in the payroll system and consider whether two-step approval is needed.
What you will learn
- Pay types and rates
- Calculation of PAYE and employer’s National Insurance contributions
- RTI submission deadlines and error handling
- Holiday pay and final settlement
- Benefits in kind (BIK) and taxable benefits
Module plan
| Module | Topic | Key deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initial setup and roles | Pay types, structure for employee ledger |
| 2 | Running payroll in practice | Checking variable pay, quality control of deductions |
| 3 | Reports and submissions | RTI Full Payment Submission, period returns and reporting to HMRC |
| 4 | Post-payroll reconciliation | Reconciliation of PAYE and employer’s NI |
| 5 | Year end and documentation | Holiday pay, reduced tax in December , report packs |
Key deadlines and rates
| Topic | Deadline/explanation |
|---|---|
| RTI submission | On or before each payday |
| PAYE payment | Monthly by 22nd (electronic) or 19th (post) |
| Employer’s NI | Monthly by 22nd (electronic) or 19th (post) |
| Holiday pay | Statutory 5.6 weeks; often paid on termination or rolled into pay |
Digital tools and system support
- Automated payroll runs: ReAI validates inputs against rates and updated key figures before payment.
- Notifications: The system sends reminders as RTI submission and employer’s NI deadlines approach.
- Role-based access: Combined with role-based access controls , the course ensures that sensitive payroll data is only accessible to authorised users.
- Reports: Dashboards provide an overview of cost per employee and changes in statutory sick pay payments .
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing documentation for benefits in kind and incorrect treatment of company cars .
- Late RTI submissions resulting in penalties and additional work.
- Failing to check holiday pay balances when onboarding new starters or processing leavers.
- Using the wrong tax code when importing variable pay.
Next steps
- Basic bookkeeping: see Accounting Course
- Invoicing and credit control: see Invoicing Course
- Year end and filing: see Year End Course