Starting the new tax year - FAQs

To assist users in transitioning to tax year 2025-26, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions below.

a) Is it ok to import my data into 2025-26 BrightPay before my payroll is finished for the 2024-25 tax year?

• We advise waiting until your payroll is fully completed for the current tax year before importing into the new tax year version. This will ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information is being imported from the previous tax year.

b) Why is 2025-26 BrightPay downloading as a 60-day free trial - I have already purchased a licence?

• BrightPay will initially download as a 60-day free trial (with full functionality). On purchasing a 2025-26 licence, you will have received a licence key on the invoice that was emailed to you. Simply select 'Upgrade Licence' on the 'Open Company' screen of your 2025-26 BrightPay software and enter and activate your licence key here. Your software will no longer show as a free trial and instead will indicate your purchased licence type. 

c) How do I install 25-26 BrightPay for the new tax year?

• Every tax year we release brand new software in line with the new budgetary requirements. Thus, to move your payroll on to a new tax year, simply download the new tax year version of BrightPay that is available on our website here.
  
  
• Once downloaded, this will install separately to your previous year’s software and you will see a new BrightPay icon appear on your desktop. You can still access the information for the previous tax year in 2024-25 BrightPay.

*Please note BrightPay for Windows 2025-26 will be the last year available and BrightPay will be exclusively available in cloud from April 2026.

d) How do I import my data from 2024-25 BrightPay into 2025-26 BrightPay for the new tax year?

• First, check the location of where your 2024-25 employer data file is saved to - you can do this by hovering your mouse over the employer name on your 'Open Employer' screen in 2023-24 BrightPay and making a note of the location that will appear.
  
  
• Next, on the 'Open Company' screen in 2025-26 BrightPay, select Import Employer(s) > Import BrightPay 2024-25 file(s)
  
  
• Browse to the location of your 2024-25 employer data file and double click on the file name to commence the import.
  
  
• Your employer and employee details will now be imported into 2025-26 BrightPay and your employer name will be added to your 2025-26 Open Company screen.
  
  Please note: if the employer file is password protected, the password will be the same as the previous year.

  
  
  

e) Do I need to send a new Employer Payment Summary to HMRC to claim the Employment Allowance?

• Yes. Since 6th April 2020, Employment Allowance does not auto renew for an employer as it did in previous tax years.
  
  
• An employer now has to submit an Employer Payment Summary to HMRC every tax year to notify HMRC that they will be claiming the Employment Allowance.
  
  
• Once this EPS is sent to HMRC, the employer can then enable the Employment Allowance in the first tax period within the 'HMRC Payments' utility in BrightPay.
  
  
• Please note: HMRC must also be notified via an Employer Payment Summary if you are no longer eligible for the Employment Allowance.
  
  
• Further guidance on operating the Employment Allowance in BrightPay is available here.

f) How do I sign into Connect for the new tax year?

• Please select the 'Connect' tab on your 2025-26 BrightPay 'Open Company' screen and sign into your Connect account using your Connect username and password.* Please note Connect is no longer available for Standard licence users for 2025-26.