<p>If you're paying an employee for the first time, you'll need to set up payroll. You need to take the following steps:<br></p><ol><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/register-employer" target="_blank">Register as an employer</a> with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and get a login for <a href="https://www.gov.uk/paye-online" target="_blank">PAYE Online</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/payroll-software" target="_blank">Choose payroll software</a> to record employee's details, calculate pay and deductions, and report to HMRC.</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/paye-for-employers/keeping-records" target="_blank">Collect and keep records</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/new-employee/" target="_blank">Tell HMRC about your employees</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/running-payroll/" target="_blank">Record pay, make deductions and report to HMRC</a> on or before the first payday.</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/running-payroll/paying-hmrc" target="_blank">Pay HMRC</a> the tax and National Insurance you owe.<br></li></ol>
Small Business Accountants
How do I pay an employee?
To pay an employee legally in the UK, an employer must run PAYE through payroll software, calculate income tax and National Insurance based on the employee's tax code and pay, and send a Real Time Information submission to HMRC on or before each payday. The employer pays HMRC the tax and NIC due by the 22nd of the following month electronically, along with its own Class 1 employer NIC at 15%.
