Guidance

Basic PAYE Tools — service availability and issues

Updated 18 March 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-paye-tools-service-availability-and-issues/basic-paye-service-availability-and-issues

Service availability

Full service available.

Planned downtime

None.

Service issues

Security software warnings or errors

Some security products may display warnings when downloading Basic PAYE Tools because they do not recognise the latest release.

It is safe to bypass warnings and allow Basic PAYE Tools to install, run, and submit data online. 

You should ensure your security software is kept fully up to date.

You may need to allow certain application files in your security software, including:

  • payetools‑rti‑vv.v.vvvvv.vvvvv‑vvv — the installation file
  • rti — located in the bptserver folder or the installation directory
  • bptshell — located in the installation directory
  • uninstall — located in the installation directory

Other supporting files may also trigger warnings.

If you have issues launching the software, try running the file as an administrator. This may help it to operate correctly.

HMRC cannot provide instructions for specific security software products. If you have issues, use your security software’s help documentation or contact the software provider directly.

The ‘Print’ function in Basic PAYE Tools cannot print directly to a printer. You’ll need to save the document as a PDF on your computer.

Forms that you’re legally required to give to your employees, for example P45s, P60s and payslips, will show correctly in the saved PDF file. You can email the PDF as an attachment, or print it from the saved location on your computer.

Before emailing payslips, you must get your employees’ agreement to do so.

Large screens such as the ‘Employer Payment Record’ and ‘Employee pay and deductions record’, will not print to PDF correctly. There’s no legal requirement for you to print these.

We’re working to fix this issue in future versions of Basic PAYE Tools.

Welsh version of Basic PAYE Tools

You need to set up the Welsh version the first time you open the tool after updating it to the 2026 to 2027 version. You only need to do this once to update the language settings.

Follow the steps to set up the Welsh version.

  1. Find Basic PAYE Tools’ crown logo in the system tray of your computer’s desktop.
  2. Right select the logo.
  3. Select ‘Language’.
  4. Select ‘Welsh’.

Close and reopen Basic PAYE Tools to view the Welsh version.

Other issues

If you need help with anything not listed here, contact the online services helpdesk.

To check for issues that may be affecting filing your returns or forms online, check the PAYE service issues.

Other services

Check availability and issues for other services.

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