HMRC agrees to IPP members’ feedback and amends PAYE regulations to allow electronic P60s

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The Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP) is pleased to announce that after lobbying for four years, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has agreed to change the PAYE regulations to allow for the use of electronic (‘e’) P60s. Because of the IPP’s Policy & Research team’s active petitioning on behalf of members and their preference to eP60s*, the regulations will be amended from 6 April 2010. Karen Thomson, Associate Director of Policy, Research and Strategic Visibility at the IPP, said: “The IPP has lobbied for many years for HMRC to permit employers to issue eP60s to employees rather than the paper version. “We are pleased to say that with the help of members’ essential survey feedback, HMRC has finally agreed to amend the PAYE regulations to allow employers to issue eP60s where they choose to do so. “This is a fantastic example of where, with statistical evidence, HMRC has shown that they want to work with employers to help reduce their payroll burdens. This also demonstrates that IPP members have a voice and can have an influence on legislation affecting them as payroll professionals. “One of the main advantages of eP60s is the decreased burden on the payroll department in reissuing duplicate P60s when requested by employees. With an increasing number of employers now using epayslips, it seems only appropriate that organisations are permitted to move on from paper to eP60s. “It is also worth mentioning that employers should establish agreement with their staff as now for epayslips before insisting on eP60s, as well as ensure all employees have access to their P60s should organisations choose to use this method of distribution.” *An IPP membership survey on eP60s ran from 15 January – 4 February 2010 to enable the Institute to lobby HMRC on behalf of its members to permit eP60s where employers wished to use the facility. Of the 118 IPP members who participated in the survey, an overwhelming 90% wanted to be able to issue their employees eP60s, or had no opinion.  Less than 10% of respondents did not wish changes to the legislation.