Payroll Services for UK Small Businesses & Directors

PAYE setup, RTI submissions, pension auto-enrolment, and tax-efficient director salary planning — managed end-to-end by an ACCA-qualified team. From director-only companies to growing teams, we handle payroll so you can focus on running your business. Precision, compliance, and automation—without the payroll headaches.

What Is Payroll and Why Does It Matter?

Payroll is how your business pays employees and directors — and reports those payments to HMRC. Every time you pay someone, you need to calculate tax and National Insurance, issue payslips, and submit Real Time Information (RTI) to HMRC.

Get it wrong and you face late filing penalties, incorrect tax codes, and employees receiving the wrong pay. Get it right and it's invisible — your team gets paid accurately, on time, every time.

If your company has even one director taking a salary, you're legally required to operate PAYE and submit RTI. That applies even if the salary is below the tax threshold.

What’s Included

PAYE & RTI SUBMISSIONS

We calculate tax, NI, and student loan deductions for every payrun. RTI submitted to HMRC on or before each payday — never late, never missed.

icon
PENSION AUTO-ENROLMENT

We handle your workplace pension duties: assessing employees, enrolling them, calculating contributions, and submitting to your pension provider.

DIRECTOR SALARY PLANNING

We advise on the most tax-efficient salary/dividend split for directors — optimising for NI, Corporation Tax, and personal tax each year.

ACCA-Qualified & Professionally Regulated

When you trust us with your accounts, you can be confident you’re in expert hands. We’re fully qualified and accredited by the ACCA, one of the industry’s most respected professional bodies.

“We adhere to the ACCA Code of Ethics and Conduct and continuously maintain professional development, ensuring we’re always up-to-date with the latest industry standards.”

Who is this for

Our payroll service works for:
Director-only companies paying a tax-efficient salary
Small businesses with 1–50 employees
Startups hiring their first team members
Companies with contractors needing CIS compliance
Businesses switching from DIY payroll to managed service
Dentists and Optometrists practise with staff

How It Works

You Send Your Data

Share employee details, salary info, and pay dates. Connect your accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent) or upload securely — we'll pull what we need.

We Process & Submit

We calculate tax, NI, pension contributions, and any deductions. RTI is submitted to HMRC on or before each payday. Payslips are generated and sent to your team.

You Stay in Control

You get a clear payroll summary each pay period showing exactly what was paid, deducted, and submitted. No surprises, no chasing. If HMRC has questions, we handle it.

Based Near London? You Don't Need to Travel.

Forget the hassle of travelling to meet an accountant in person. We meet you over a video call and provide GDPR-compliant, secure methods to upload your payroll data for processing — saving you time, wherever you are.

Looking for a payroll accountant near you? We serve clients across London and the South East — including Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Shoreditch, King's Cross, Canary Wharf, City of London, Westminster, Brixton, Clapham, Peckham, Croydon, Bromley, Beckenham, Orpington, Wimbledon, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton, Cheam, Worcester Park, Epsom, Leatherhead, Redhill, Crawley, and Brighton — as well as businesses throughout the UK.

Our registered office: 5th Floor, 167-169 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PF

Why GenTax

GenTax was founded by Mohamed Sayedi — ACCA qualified, 5 years in compliance, 5 years in finance technology including 3 years at EY. Built on experience and backed by technology.We're not a faceless filing factory.

We're a small team that understands what small businesses actually need: accurate payroll, clear reporting, and someone who handles HMRC so you don't have to.

Director salary/dividend optimisation built in

Tech-driven workflow — no manual payslips, no spreadsheets

Fixed pricing,
no hidden fees

"I’d been managing staff pay and supplier payments myself for a while and it was getting out of had...... GenTax set up proper systems so payroll and payables run smoothly. It’s freed up a lot of my time and I have an increased level of trust in my numbers now."

John W.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the most tax-efficient way to pay myself as a director — salary, dividends, or both?
For most directors in 2025/26, the optimal strategy is a combination: pay yourself a salary up to the National Insurance threshold (£12,570) to preserve State Pension credits without triggering NI, then top up with dividends. This minimises both Income Tax and National Insurance. The exact split depends on your company profits, other income, and personal circumstances. We model different scenarios to find your optimal mix.
Do I need to set up PAYE if I'm the only director and pay myself a low salary?
Yes. Even if your salary is below the tax and NI threshold, you still need to register as an employer with HMRC and submit RTI returns each time you pay yourself. This is a legal requirement. Many directors skip this and get caught later. The only exception is if you take zero salary — but that means no Corporation Tax deduction for salary and no State Pension credits.
Do I need to run PAYE if I only pay myself dividends?
If you're taking any salary at all, even below tax thresholds, you need to register for PAYE and submit RTI returns to HMRC. If you genuinely take zero salary and only dividends, you don't need PAYE — but this means no Corporation Tax deduction for salary and no State Pension credits. Most directors take at least a small salary for these reasons.
Why is my payroll software not calculating National Insurance for my director salary?
Directors have different NIC rules to employees. Software like Xero and QuickBooks can calculate director NIC using either the annual method (calculated at year end) or the cumulative method (calculated each pay period). If set to annual method, you won't see NIC deducted until the threshold is breached cumulatively. Check your director NIC settings — or let us handle it.
Can I change my director's salary part-way through the tax year?
Yes, you can change your salary at any point. However, because director NI is calculated annually (not monthly like employees), changing mid-year can create unexpected NI liabilities when the annual calculation is done. It's best to decide your salary at the start of the tax year and keep it consistent.
Do I need a workplace pension if I'm the only director?
If you're the only director with no employment contract, you're typically exempt from auto-enrolment duties. That said, paying into a pension via your company is still highly tax-efficient — contributions are a deductible business expense and don't attract NI. Many directors voluntarily set up company pensions for this reason.
How do I run payroll for a small team of 1–10 employees?
You need to: register as an employer with HMRC, choose HMRC-recognised payroll software, set up each employee with their tax code, run payroll before each pay date, submit RTI on or before each payday, and pay HMRC the PAYE and NI due by the 22nd of the following month. For small teams, software like Xero or QuickBooks makes this straightforward — or we can manage the entire process.
What happens if my director salary has been set up wrong — will HMRC penalise me?
If you've underpaid tax or NI, HMRC will issue a correction and you'll need to pay the difference plus interest. Penalties depend on whether the error was careless (up to 30%), deliberate (up to 70%), or concealed (up to 100%). For genuine mistakes corrected promptly, penalties are usually waived or minimal. The key is to fix errors as soon as you discover them.
How much should I budget for an accountant to handle payroll?
For a director-only company, payroll adds around £20–40 per month. For small teams (2–10 employees), expect £50–150 per month depending on pay frequency and complexity. We offer fixed-fee payroll packages with no hidden costs — contact us for a quote tailored to your setup.
How do I register as an employer with HMRC?
Register online at HMRC's website. You'll need your company UTR, company registration number, and details of your first employee or director salary. HMRC will send you an employer PAYE reference and Accounts Office reference. Registration can take up to 15 working days, so plan ahead before your first payday.
What are the penalties for submitting payroll RTI late?
HMRC charges late filing penalties based on the number of employees: £100 per month for 1–9 employees, £200 for 10–49, £300 for 50–249, and £400 for 250+. Penalties start from the second late submission in the tax year. You also face interest on any late PAYE/NI payments.
Is there a payroll accountant near me?
GenTax serves clients across the UK, with a strong focus on London and the South East. Whether you're in Central London, South London, South West London, or Surrey and Sussex, we work with clients remotely using secure, GDPR-compliant tools. Our registered office is at 5th Floor, 167-169 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PF. Book a free consultation to get started.
What happens if I miss a PAYE payment deadline?
HMRC is strict with payroll deadlines; if a payment is late, you may be charged interest and immediate penalties. Digital payments must reach HMRC’s bank account by the 22nd of the month. You can watch HMRC's official guide on when and how to pay PAYE to ensure you are using the correct accounts office reference number and meeting the required dates.

Related Services

Your All-in-One Accounting Partner for Compliance, Growth, and Success.

Heading Related Blog Posts

Payroll you don’t have to chase.

Free up your team, reduce risk, and know everyone’s paid right.

Cut out SVG

See How We Can Help

See How We Can Help

Cut out SVG

Still Thinking About It?

No pressure, let's make your next move
the smartest yet. Just a friendly chat to explore how smarter accounting can unlock time, money, and growth for your business.

Get in touch

Get in touch