Payroll year-end: P60s and final FPS
A clean UK payroll year-end: final FPS, P60s by 31 May, P11D(b) and new tax codes.
Payroll year-end in the UK runs from the final pay period in March or early April through to the last P11D(b) submission in July. Done well, it is a slightly busier month rather than a fire-fight. Done badly, it generates penalties, employee complaints and a long shadow into the new tax year.
The year-end timetable
UK payroll years end on 5 April. Most events follow within 8 weeks.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Last pay period before 5 April | Submit final FPS marked “Final submission for the year” |
| Up to 19 April | Submit any corrections via earlier-year update or new FPS |
| By 31 May | Issue P60 to every employee on the payroll on 5 April |
| By 6 July | File P11D and P11D(b) for benefits not payrolled |
| By 22 July | Pay Class 1A NIC electronically |
| Before first pay run of new year | Apply new tax codes, allowances, NIC thresholds |
The P60 can be paper or electronic — both are acceptable as long as the employee can save and print it.
What goes on the P60
A P60 is the year-end summary for each employee in your employment on 5 April.
| Box | Contents |
|---|---|
| Pay in this employment | Taxable pay this year |
| Tax deducted | PAYE income tax |
| Pay from previous employments | From P45 brought-in figures |
| Tax from previous employments | From P45 brought-in figures |
| Final tax code | At 5 April |
| Student loan deductions | Plan 1, 2, 4 or 5 |
| Postgraduate loan deductions | If applicable |
| Statutory pay | SMP, SPP, ShPP, SAP, SPBP, SSP |
Final FPS and EPS
Two distinct year-end submissions complete the cycle.
- Final FPS — flag the last full payment submission for the tax year as “Final”
- Final EPS — submit if you have nil payments, statutory recovery, Apprenticeship Levy or CIS deductions to declare for March
- Match the EPS Apprenticeship Levy to the employer National Insurance schedule
- Issue earlier-year updates (Y/E EYU is replaced by FPS) for prior-year corrections
- Run a final HMRC liability reconciliation and clear any underpayments
- Double-check Construction Industry Scheme returns are filed (see CIS )
Setting up the new tax year
Before the first pay run of the new year, update the system with:
| New-year action | Detail |
|---|---|
| Carry forward tax codes | Add 1 to the suffix where instructed |
| Apply P9X uplift | HMRC publishes annually |
| Update NIC thresholds | Primary, secondary, UEL |
| Reset Employment Allowance | Re-claim each year |
| Refresh student loan thresholds | For Plans 1/2/4/5 and PGL |
Closing thoughts
Payroll year-end is the calmest time to deep-clean your employee data, so use the lull. Pair this with our PAYE Real Time Information article, the P11D form guide, and the year-end checklist . The HMRC Basic PAYE Tools guidance covers the basics for very small employers. See pricing for payroll software that automates year-end submissions.