Payroll
7 Payroll Mistakes That Lead to HMRC Fines [And How to Avoid Them]
Running payroll in the UK means operating PAYE, filing Real Time Information on time, deducting the right taxes, and enrolling staff into a workplace pension — and HMRC can fine you for getting any of it wrong. Research shows that four in ten UK SMEs have already been penalised for payroll errors, with fines ranging from £100 per missed filing to £10,000 per day for auto-enrolment failures. This guide covers the seven most common payroll mistakes that trigger HMRC penalties, including wrong tax codes, late RTI submissions, incorrect wage calculations, and missed year-end deadlines. Each mistake is explained with the actual penalty amount and a clear fix. If you run payroll for even one employee, these are the errors you cannot afford to make.
