HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched ‘Basic PAYE Tools’ to help employers run their payroll systems.

The new on-line resource replaces HMRC’s popular Employer CD-ROM. It includes all the CD-ROM’s interactive features but also has an automatic update facility to ensure the tools are up-to-date with the latest information and figures.

Employers who have used the CD-ROM will need the new tools for the remainder of the 2010-11 tax year and for future tax years. The tools can be downloaded by visiting www.businesslink.gov.uk/basicpayetools.

HMRC strongly recommends that employers keep up to speed with other important PAYE developments by signing-up to the free email alerts at www.businesslink.gov.uk/hmrcemployeremailalerts because it will no longer be mailing hard copies of guidance to employers. These alerts are now the best way of keeping up-to-date with PAYE issues.

Employers are also being reminded that PAYE information, forms and guidance are all available online at www.businesslink.gov.uk/payeformsandpublications and that paper versions are now only available in limited circumstances from the Employer Orderline.

If you are using the employer database on the 2010 Employer CD-ROM you need to make sure it is updated to be compatible with the tools – go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/cdrom for more details.