Performing multi-company tasks

To produce your employee payslips, use this option.

For more information, see Preview and print payslips.

When you've finished entering all of your employees' pay details for the current payroll period and you're sure that you've checked all payments and reports for accuracy, use this option to update the records in your software.

To set holiday working patterns, SSP qualifying patterns and pattern start dates for all employees, or employees with a specific pay frequency, within the selected companies, use this option.

To record specific holiday dates for the selected employees, use this option. For example, your company may shut down for the period between Christmas and New Year and all your employees must use part of their annual holiday entitlement.

To clear any entitlement brought forward from the previous year for all employees, or employees with a specific pay frequency, within the selected companies, use this option.

Before printing pre-update reports, to ensure the payment information for the selected employees and companies displays accurate values, use this option.

To clear any P46 car flags for all employees, or employees with a specific pay frequency, within the selected companies, use this option.

To update the tax parameters for selected companies in accordance with HMRC legislation changes, use this option.

Note: Ensure that you have updated all employees within the selected companies prior to using this option, as legislation changes affect the whole company.

To clear any W1/M1 flags applied to employees' tax codes, for all employees, or employees with a specific pay frequency, within the selected companies, use this option. For example, you may want to clear W1/M1 flags for all employees, in all companies at the start of the tax year, when all employees are normally placed on a cumulative tax code.

To directly replace one tax code with another for all employees, or employees with a specific pay frequency, within the selected companies, use this option.

Search for a prefix and then adjust the numeric part of the tax code.

Search for a suffix and then adjust the numeric part of the tax code.

To directly replace one NI category with another for all employees, or employees with a specific pay frequency, in the selected companies, use this option. For example, if all employees in a group of companies join a contracted out pension scheme, use this option to change their NI category from a standard rate to the appropriate category for their scheme.

To assign a payment that has been set up in one of your companies to the selected employees in your other companies, use this option.

To remove a payment assigned to your employees in the companies selected, use this option. The payment is removed from the employee's record, but remains set up at a company level.

To assign a deduction that has been set up in one of your companies to the selected employees in your other companies, use this option.

To remove a deduction assigned to your employees in the companies selected, use this option. The deduction is removed from the employee's record, but remains set up at a company level.

To assign a salary sacrifice deduction that has been set up in one of your companies to the selected employees in your other companies, use this option.

To remove a salary sacrifice deduction assigned to your employees in the companies selected, use this option. The salary sacrifice deduction is removed from the employee's record, but remains set up at a company level.

To assign a pension scheme that has been set up in one of your companies to the selected employees in your other companies, use this option.

This relates to qualifying pension schemes which are part of the pension reforms announced by the Government. To find out more, see Pension reforms.

The employee has the opportunity to opt out of a qualifying pension scheme. Before doing this, the employer must provide them with enough detail about the scheme in order for them to make this decision. If they still choose to opt out, they must provide the employer with a completed opt out notice.

Enter the e-Submissions Settings information in your software so HMRC can identify you as a registered employer. You only need to do this once for all your companies.

Need help completing the e-Submission Settings? See Entering e-Submissions Settings.

The following options relate to the Real Time Information (RTI) changes to the PAYE system introduced by HMRC. Find out more about these changes.

To send a full payment submission (FPS) for the selected companies to HMRC, use this option.

To send an employer alignment submissions (EAS) for the selected companies to HMRC, use this option.

To produce the reports needed to check that your values are as expected, before updating your records, use this option. Use the exceptions and variance reporting to help you look for any irregularities in your payroll.

You can also use the Pre-update reports option to produce payslips and cheques.

For more information, see Running pre-update reports.

To maintain company records and produce the appropriate statutory forms for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), use this option.

For more information, see Producing post-update reports.

Backing up and restoring data.

Check that they have access to the companies they need. They also need access to employee level 9, including lower levels and all pay frequencies.

 Managing security accounts.

Register at www.hmrc.gov.uk.

To find out more about communicating online with HMRC, see Communicating with HMRC online.

Open each company in your upgraded software.

You should also check that no one else is logged in to any of the companies accessed by the Multi-Company feature. Tasks may not be completed if someone remains logged into a company.