We are pleased to announce that BrightPay Payroll Software 2025/26 for both Desktop and Cloud is available to download now.

Due to a large number of calls and emails your wait time may be a little longer than usual. We appreciate your understanding during this busy period.

Click here to access our Year End Hub

FAQs - Feature Comparison

Starting in the 2026/27 tax year, BrightPay will be exclusively cloud-based. The desktop version will no longer receive updates, support, or legislative compliance.

Bright’s cloud solutions offer enhanced functionality, security, and a modern payroll experience. To stay at the forefront of innovation, we are focusing our development on advancing the platform, ensuring a seamless transition for users.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions about moving to BrightPay cloud, feature comparison, Connect and support. Our download our pdf version here.

FAQs: Feature Comparison

Q What’s the difference between BrightPay for Windows, BrightPay Connect and BrightPay’s cloud software?

A Click here to view a full feature comparison

Q What is the maximum number of employees allowed?

A BrightPay’s cloud software is currently restricted to 300 employees (including leavers) per employer upon release. This limit will be increased in the future.

Q Is the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) module available on BrightPay cloud?

A CIS functionality is currently only available on BrightPay for Windows. We are developing a separate solution and this will be available later in 2025. If you require CIS functionality now, you can use BrightPay for Windows for CIS alongside BrightPay cloud. Please contact our team on brightpaysales@brightsg.com for assistance

Need help? Support is available at 0345 9390019 or brightpayuksupport@brightsg.com.

Moving to BrightPay cloud

Why BrightPay cloud FAQs - Feature Comparison FAQs - Making the Move FAQs - Pricing FAQs - Moving from BrightPay Connect FAQs - CIS

25-26 BrightPay - System Requirements 25-26 BrightPay - Download BrightPay's Employer Tax Rate Card 2025-26 Introduction to BrightPay Important Information for Mac Users Starting the New Tax Year

Ordering for the new Tax YearHow do I start processing 2025-26 payroll?Importing From 24-25 BrightPay Starting the new tax year - FAQs

Importing From The Previous Tax Year Installing BrightPay

Installing the software on to your PC Setting Up BrightPay for Multiple Users Download Sample Employer Files Transferring BrightPay from one PC to another

Moving to BrightPay from another payroll software

Preparing for your move to BrightPay - Useful Guidance Methodology used in BrightPay Importing Employers - List of Employer Data that can be Imported into BrightPay Importing Employees - List of Employee Data that can be Imported into BrightPay Moving to BrightPay mid-year - Recoverable Amounts to Date Moving to BrightPay mid-year - Employment Allowance Moving to BrightPay - Continuing Auto Enrolment from a previous software Moving to BrightPay mid-year - Directors Importing from 12Pay Importing from Access Payroll Importing from Capium Importing from HMRC Basic PAYE Tools Importing from IRISImporting from Kashflow Importing from Keytime Importing from MoneysoftImporting from MyPAYE Importing from Opera Importing from Payroo Importing from Pegasus Importing from Qtac Importing from Quickbooks Importing from SAGEImporting from Star Importing from Xero Importing using a CSV File - Other software Importing using an FPS File - Other Software

Bureau Enhancements - Useful Functionality for Bureau Licence Holders

BrightPay Startup Window Client Details Agent Settings Exporting Client Documents Batch Processing PayrollBureau Statistics Report Importing Multiple Employers from CSV File Updating Existing Employee Details from a CSV File Importing Saved Reports from another BrightPay Data File

Employer Details

Adding a New Employer Adding/ Amending Employer Details Adding/ Amending Departments Adding/ Amending Hourly Rates Adding/ Amending Daily Rates Adding/ Amending Piece Rates Adding/ Amending Addition Types Adding/ Amending Deduction Types Adding/ Amending Savings Schemes Adding/ Amending Bank Accounts Employer Calendar

Employee Details

Personal Employment Starter/Leaver Payment Tax, NICs, RTI HR, Other Generating Employee Works Numbers Employee Count Report Employee Address Labels Adding New Employees from a CSV File Updating Existing Employee Details from a CSV File

Coding Notices Payroll Calendar Processing Payroll

Setting your Payment Schedule Weekly Payroll Fortnightly Payroll 4-weekly Payroll Monthly Payroll Quarterly Payroll Annual/Yearly Payroll Period Summary View (Payroll Preview)Net to Gross Payments Allocating An Employee's Pay across more than one Department Additions and Deductions Processing Pension Deductions (outside of AE)Setting a Pension AVC to repeat Adding a Note to Employee Payslips Pre-paying an Employee Zeroising Payslips (Batch Operation)Setting pay items to auto-zeroise Finalising Payslips Childcare Vouchers

Importing Pay Data using CSV File

Importing Periodic Payments using CSV file Importing Daily Payments using CSV file Importing Hourly Payments using CSV file Importing Additions using CSV file Importing Deductions using CSV file Importing Notes using CSV file Importing Payments, Additions & Deductions in a single CSV File

Distributing Payslips

Printing Payslips Emailing Payslips Exporting Payslips Customising Payslips

Paying Employees

Paying Employees by Cash Paying Employees by Cheque Paying Employees by Credit Transfer & Creating a Bank File Paying Employees using Modulr

Reporting Contracted Hours - Hourly Bands for FPS Full Payment Submission (FPS)Additional Full Payment Submission Employer Payment Summary (EPS)NINO Verification Request (NVR)RTI - Additional FunctionalityNew RTI Requirement from April 2022 - CIS Deductions Suffered

Common HMRC Error Messages Analysis

Saved Reports Creating a New Report Viewing Reports Editing Reports Saving Reports Printing/Emailing Reports Exporting Reports Importing Saved Reports from another BrightPay Data File

Payroll JournalsHMRC Payments

Recording Payments to HMRC P30 & P32 Paying HMRC using Modulr Paying HMRC - Useful HMRC Guidance

Making Corrections to Payroll

Re-opening Payslips Re-defining Schedule of Periods

Scheduling Future Payments Switching an Employee's Pay Frequency Directors

Setting Up a Director Directors' NIC Directors appointed during the Tax Year

Off-Payroll Working (IR35)Starters

Setting up a new employee mid-year New Starter Checklist Tax Codes to use for New Employees New Starters and Recruitment Templates

Processing a Leaver Printing/Emailing/Exporting a P45 Processing Payments After Leaving

Student Loan Deductions Postgraduate Loan Deductions Attachment of Earnings

Attachment of Earnings (Northern Ireland)Child Support Deductions from Earnings Order (DEO)Civil Judgment Debt Attachment of Earnings Order (County Court)Council Tax Attachment of Earnings Order (CTAEO) - England Council Tax Attachment of Earnings Order (CTAEO) - Wales Current Maintenance Arrestment (CMA)Direct Earnings Attachment Magistrates Court Attachment of Earnings Order Maintenance Attachment of Earnings Order Other Attachment of Earnings Orders Attachment Order Summary Report

Expenses & Benefits

Expenses & Benefits - Overview Expenses & Benefits - Setting the Tax Accounting Method Applying an Expense or Benefit in BrightPay Expenses & Benefits - P11D & P11D(b) End of Year Return

Pensions (outside of Automatic Enrolment)Payroll Giving Year End

Year End - Frequently Asked Questions Year-End Procedure for Tax Year 2024-25 - 5 Step Guide Year-End Checklist for Tax Year 2024-25 Year End - Support Hub

Rates & Thresholds at a Glance

Rates & Thresholds 2023-24 Rates & Thresholds 2024-25 Rates & Thresholds 2025-26

Tax Codes - Overview Tax Rates and Thresholds for 2025-26 Scottish Rate of Income Tax (SRIT)Welsh Rate of Income Tax

Mileage Allowance Payments (MAPs)Employment Allowance Apprenticeship Levy Termination Awards & Sporting Testimonials Gender Pay Gap Reporting Leave Reporting & Employee Calendar

Employee Calendar - Overview Defining and Setting Custom Leave Types on Employee Calendar Recording Employee Leave on the Calendar Batch Processing of Employee Leave on the Calendar Adding Notes to Calendar Entries Viewing/Printing Employees' Annual Leave Entitlement Calendar Report

Annual Leave Entitlement Methods in BrightPay Adjusting an Employee's Leave Entitlement Recording an Employee's Annual Leave Batch Processing of Employee Annual Leave on the Calendar Viewing/Printing Employees' Annual Leave Entitlement Processing Holiday Pay Annual Leave Request Form Holiday Entitlements - Useful Information

Payslip Translations Backing Up/Restoring Your Payroll Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)

CIS Overview Contractor Details Adding Subcontractors Subcontractor Registered Details Subcontractor Additional Details Subcontractor Payment Details Subcontractor Notes Subcontractor Verification Request Importing Subcontractors from a CSV File Updating Existing Subcontractor Details from a CSV File Processing Subcontractor Payments Finalising Subcontractor Payments Monthly Return Re-opening Subcontractor Payments (Corrections)Payment & Deduction Statements Paying SubcontractorsZeroising Payments Importing Subcontractor Pay Data using CSV FileYear End Statement CIS - VAT Domestic Reverse Charge New RTI Requirement from April 2022 - CIS Deductions Suffered

Automatic Enrolment

25-26 Automatic Enrolment Assessment Guide Instructing BrightPay of your Duties Start Date Entering your Pension Scheme in BrightPay Processing Eligible Jobholders in BrightPay Processing Non-Eligible Jobholders in BrightPay Processing Entitled Workers in BrightPay Postponing Employees in BrightPay Batch Processing of Employees in BrightPay Processing Opt-out Notices in BrightPay Sending your Pension Information to the Pension Provider Automatic Enrolment Journey Report Generating an Automatic Enrolment Report in BrightPay Switching Pension Schemes/Groups in BrightPay Applying a Salary Sacrifice Arrangement in BrightPay Automatic Re-enrolment in BrightPay Dedicated Pension Providers in BrightPay - GuidanceSalary Sacrifice for Auto Enrolment

BrightPay Connect

BrightPay Connect - Overview Registering for BrightPay Connect Linking an Employer to BrightPay Connect Customising your BrightPay Connect Account Assigning a New User in BrightPay Connect Editing/Deleting a User from BrightPay Connect Standard Users - Invite and Manage Users Enabling Employee Access to Self Service Configuring Employee Self Service Options Disabling/Editing Employee Access to Self Service Inviting Employees to use Self Service Automated Cloud Backup Restoring from a Cloud Backup Two Factor AuthenticationEmployer Self Service PortalEmployee Self Service PortalConnect for Bureaus - New featuresBrightPay Connect - Terms of Service Connect - MultiUser EnhancementsConnect - New Tax Year FAQs Deleting a Company in BrightPay Connect

Frequently Asked Questions GDPR and BrightPay GDPR and the Payroll Bureau Data Processor Agreement

Bright Terms and Conditions and BrightPay End User Licence Agreement Bright ID

Order BrightPay using your Bright ID

Connect v Cloud

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