Guidance

First time users: install and set up Basic PAYE Tools

Find step-by-step help to install Basic PAYE Tools onto your computer and set up employer and employee details.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 12 June 2014
• Last updated: 17 July 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 17 July 2025

     An additional step has been added to the 'Install Basic PAYE Tools' instructions in the 'First time users: how to install and set up Basic PAYE Tools' page attachment to provide information on beginning the installation.

  2. 17 April 2025

     Instructions to open the Welsh version and accessible version of the tool have been added.

  3. 27 February 2025

     Instructions to download the tools have been removed as this is covered in the linked guide 'Download HMRC's Basic PAYE Tools'.

  4. 18 January 2023

     The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2022 to 2023 year.

  5. 22 April 2021

     The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2021 to 2022 year.

  6. 5 May 2020

     The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2020 to 2021 year.

  7. 27 March 2020

     Information about where you can find your Accounts Office reference has been updated.

  8. 18 April 2019

     The 'First time users: how to download and install Basic PAYE Tools' has been updated for the 2019 to 2020 year.

  9. 6 April 2018

     Annual updates for 2018 to 2019 have been carried out.

  10. 6 April 2017

      Annual updates for 2017 to 2018 have been carried out.

  11. 6 April 2016

      Updated guidance available.

  12. 2 April 2015

      This document has been updated due to changes in guidance from April 2015, such as removal of temporary SCON and introduction of Shared Parental Pay and annual uprating.

  13. 12 June 2014

      First published.

Documents

First time users: how to install and set up Basic PAYE Tools

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Details

This guide will help you install Basic PAYE Tools and add an employer and employees to the tool.

All Basic PAYE Tools user guides are updated only when there are major changes to the tools. They may not be updated yearly.

As an employer you must register with HMRC for PAYE Online before you use Basic PAYE Tools to run your payroll calculations and submissions.