PAYE Online for Employers: EDI - Technical Pack for Software Developers

Note. The pack contains documentation required to support the development of software for the online filing of PAYE In Year, End of Year (EOY) and Expenses and Benefits forms and returns by Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

Also included is the documentation required to support the development of the retrieval of online outgoing messages for P6, P6B, P9, and student loan forms SL1 and SL2.

This pack is aimed at Software Developers only and not at employers' who may wish to use PAYE EDI service.

The contents of this pack are frequently updated, please check the website regularly to ensure that you are working with the most up to date version.

To view a PDF document you must have a PDF reader installed on your computer. Adobe reader is provided for download.

The technical specifications for all the forms and returns are detailed in the relevant Message Implementation Guidelines (MIG)

EDI Recognition Scheme

Software developers can apply to have their software recognised by the HMRC. The testing included in this recognition process will give the HMRC and the software user the confidence that it can successfully produce, upload or translate online versions of PAYE forms and returns to meet HMRC requirements.

The Scheme is designed to check that software products can successfully support the exchange of PAYE forms and returns with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

One of the requirements of the Payroll Standard is that end of year return forms P14 and P35 must be capable of being filed online, either using EDI or over the Internet.

Participation in the scheme is offered completely free of charge. Please note that only software developers may participate, not individual users of the products.

The PAYE Online for Employers: EDI software and forms page shows the software products that have passed the Recognition Scheme. This list is useful to employers who want to know which products can successfully exchange PAYE forms and returns online with HMRC.

Further information about the Scheme is available in the 'EB4 (PAYE – EDI) Software Developers’ booklet.

The Software Developers Support Team at HMRC are responsible for the day to day running of the Scheme. They can be contacted by:-
Telephone on 01274 534666 or email: SDS Team.

Details of the recognition scheme can be found in EDI Recognition Scheme - Instructions for gaining EDI recognition (PDF 105K)

Test scenarios are provided at:

• End of Year 2008-2009 P14, P35 and In-year forms from April 2008 (PDF 194K)
• End of Year 2007-2008 P14 and P35 (PDF 199K)
• In year forms
• P11D and P11D(b) (PDF 70K)
• P46(Car)(PDF 37K)

For details of the P6, P6B, P9, and SL1 and SL2 contact the SDS Team.