This is the guidance for the tax year 2025/26

You can access our Year End Support Hub here.

To assist users in completing the 2025-26 tax year and transitioning to the new tax year 2026-27, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions below.


 

a) What steps do I need to complete to finalise the 2025-26 tax year?

• Please click here to access our simple step-by-step guide for completing the 2025-26 year end process in BrightPay.

b) How do I issue P60s to employees?

• The P60 option is located within the Employees menu
   
• Select an employee who is in active employment as at 5th April from the left hand listing
   
• Click P60 on the menu bar and simply select the P60 option you require

c) How do I notify HMRC that the last RTI submission is my final submission for the tax year?

• Within the RTI menu in 2025-26 BrightPay, select 'RTI > New > Employer Payment Summary'

• Where you have recoverable amounts, tick this box and select 'tax month 12' or 'tax quarter 4'
   
• Tick the Final Submission indicator and click OK to generate the EPS
   
• Submit to HMRC

d) Do I have a week 53 in the 2025-26 tax year?

• Only if an employer pays employees on a Sunday and the last pay date of the 2025-26 tax year is Sunday 5th April 2026.

As it is the pay date and not the period end that dictates the week number, if the payment date is on or after 6th April 2026 - this will be week 1 in the 26/27 tax year. The schedule in the new tax year can be set up following the period end / pay dates from week 52. Example; if week 52 period end is Sunday 29/03/26 with a pay date of Friday 03/04/26, then week 1 would be set up with period end Sunday 05/04/26 with a pay date of Friday 10/04/26.

e) When will 26-27 BrightPay be available?

• 26-27 BrightPay is available now. 

  Q. Can I set the current year as the default?
  A. Yes. If you bookmark the following link, BrightPay will open with the 2026/27 tax year by default:
  https://uk-26-27.brightpay.com

f) Is it ok to import my data into 2026-27 BrightPay before my payroll is finished for the 2025-26 tax year?

• We advise waiting until your payroll is fully completed for the current tax year before importing into the new tax year version. This will ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information is being imported from the previous tax year.

g) How do I start the new tax year in 26-27 BrightPay?

• Every tax year we release brand new software in line with the new budgetary requirements. Thus, to move your payroll on to a new tax year, simply select the 2025-26 icon on the top left corner of your screen and you will see 2026-27 as an option on the drop down menu.
   
• Please select 2026-27 to move forward to the new tax year. You will see your employer(s)' details listed on the employer dashboard. You can import your employer into the new tax year.  You can still access the information for the previous tax year 2025-26 BrightPay by selecting the 2025-26 option to switch tax years.

If you cannot see the 2026/27 tax year option in the dropdown menu, ensure that you are in the 'Browse Employers' screen to be able to access the new tax year. If it is still not showing, try to refresh your browser and then click on the tax year dropdown again to switch tax years.

h) How do I import my data from 2025/26 BrightPay into 2026/27 BrightPay for the new tax year?

• First, if you have selected the 2026/27 option to move forward to the new tax year you will see your employer(s) details listed on the employer dashboard.The icon to the left of the employer's name will have a dotted line around it.
   
• If you wish to import this employer into the new 2026/27 tax year please select the employer's name.
  
   
• A message will show 'A record for Employer XYZ does not yet exist for the 2026/27 tax year. To use this employer in 2026/27, you must import its data from 2025/26.' Please select 'Import Now'.
   
• Your employer and employee details will now be imported into 2026-27 BrightPay and the icon to the left of the employer's name will be in grey.
  
   

i) Do I need to send a new Employer Payment Summary to HMRC to claim the Employment Allowance?

• Yes. Since 6th April 2020, Employment Allowance does not auto renew for an employer as it did in previous tax years.
   
• An employer now has to submit an Employer Payment Summary to HMRC every tax year to notify HMRC that they will be claiming the Employment Allowance.
   
• Once this EPS is sent to HMRC, the employer can then enable the Employment Allowance in the first tax period within the 'HMRC Payments' utility in BrightPay.
   
• Please note: HMRC must also be notified via an Employer Payment Summary if you are no longer eligible for the Employment Allowance.
   
• Further guidance on operating the Employment Allowance in BrightPay is available here .

j) Why do I receive HMRC error 6010 when I try to submit a P11D(b) for the 2025-26 tax year?

• HMRC will only accept a P11D(b) for the 2025-26 tax year from 6th April 2026. If trying to submit before this date, error number 6010 will be returned from HMRC into BrightPay.
   
• HMRC are currently accepting a P11D(b) for the tax year 2024-25 up until 5th April 2026.

k) Why is final EPS/FPS, P60s, P11Ds on the BrightPay main homescreen still showing as "no" when these have been sent?

If you have completed and sent your final EPS/FPS and P60s, but these are still showing “no” on the Browse Employers main page, go to Employer tab > Client Details, tick the relevant boxes for Final EPS/FPS sent and P60s issued, then save the changes. This updates the visible status for each employer/scheme on the display.