Year End - Frequently Asked Questions

To assist users in completing the 2024-25 tax year and transitioning to tax year 2025-26, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions below.

a) What steps do I need to complete to finalise the 2024-25 tax year?

• Please click here to access our simple step-by-step guide for completing the 2024-25 year end process in BrightPay.

b) How do I issue P60s to employees?

• The P60 option is located within the Employees menu
  
  
• Select an employee who is in active employment as at 5th April from the left hand listing
  
  
• Click P60 on the menu bar and simply select the P60 option you require

c) How do I notify HMRC that the last RTI submission is my final submission for the tax year?

• Within the RTI menu in 2024-25 BrightPay, select 'RTI > New > Employer Payment Summary'
  
  
• Where you have recoverable amounts, tick this box and select 'tax month 12' or 'tax quarter 4'
  
  
• Tick the Final Submission indicator and click OK to generate the EPS
  
  
• Submit to HMRC

d) Do I have a week 53 in the 2024-25 tax year?

• Only if an employer pays employees on a Thursday or Friday and the last pay date of the 2024-25 tax year is Saturday 5th April 2025.

e) When will 25-26 BrightPay be available?

• 25-26 BrightPay is scheduled for release week commencing 17th March 2025.

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

f) 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.

g) 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. 

h) 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.

i) 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.

  
  
  

j) 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 .

k) 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 Bright ID username and password.

 * Please note Connect is no longer available for Standard licence users for 2025-26.

l) Why do I receive HMRC error 6010 when I try to submit a P11D(b) for the 2024-25 tax year?

• HMRC will only accept a P11D(b) for the 2024-25 tax year from 6th April 2025. If trying to submit before this date, error number 6010 will be returned from HMRC into BrightPay.
  
  
• HMRC are currently accepting a P11D(b) for the tax year 2024-25 up until 5th April 2025.