HM REVENUE AND
CUSTOMS News Release (NAT 27/09) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 24 March 2009
Small employers
are being urged to file their 2008/09 Employer Annual Return
online this year, and get a £75 tax-free payment in the process.
Employers with fewer than 50 employees can file on paper or
online, but only those filing a valid online return will qualify
for the £75 payment.
Those employers with 50 or more employees must file their 2008/09
return online, or face a penalty.
To file online, employers must first register with HMRC's
"PAYE Online for Employers" service. It can take up to a
week to get the Activation PIN after registering, so employers
should not leave it until the last minute.
Agents, tax advisers or payroll bureaux can also file on behalf
of employers. And small employers will still qualify for the £75
tax-free payment, even if an intermediary files online for them.
Employer Annual Returns are due by 19 May, or late-filing
penalties will apply.
HMRC's Sue Williams said:
"We are accepting returns now, and would urge all employers
to send them in as soon as they are ready, to avoid any
last-minute rush."
Support and advice is available from HMRC's Employers
Helpline on 08457 143 143, online at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye
or from HMRC's Employer CD-ROM. There is also a free video
podcast available to view or download from HMRC's podcast
pages at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/podcasts.
Notes for editors
1. Each year, employers throughout the UK are required to inform
HMRC of their employees' tax and national insurance payments
for the last financial year. Employers meet this obligation by
sending in a P14 for each individual employee, and a P35
summarising the details for their entire workforce.
2. Employer Annual Returns sent with no financial entries do not
qualify for the £75 tax-free payment.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Press
enquiries only please contact:
Tel: 020 7147 0798
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk