Businesses that choose to carry out payroll functions themselves can use a payroll software to record employee information and calculate employee pay and deductions as well as statutory pay and HMRC payments. A payroll software is also required to report payroll information to HMRC in the United Kingdom (UK). This is why businesses look for the best free payroll software UK.

There are several payroll software options that can be used for payroll management depending on your requirement. The HMRC has made recommendations for payroll software to use and these are the best free payroll software UK for companies with less than 10 employees.

01. 12 Cloud Payroll is one of the best free payroll software UK

A payroll manager looking for a free but reliable payroll software will opt for 12 Cloud Payroll, which is a fully comprehensive cloud-based system. This is one of the best payroll software for small business UK, but it is also ideal for much larger companies. However, their free payroll services are only applicable to companies with nine or less employees.

RTI eReturns and eReceipts are provided by 12 Cloud Payroll, along with several other services. With 12 Cloud Payroll, a business can process their complete pay run, link payroll with their chosen accounting, HR or time and attendance software, and file required returns to HMRC like FPS, EPS, NVR, and EYU online.

Other features that make 12 Cloud Payroll one of the best payroll software for small business UK is that the software allows employees to view and print their own ePayslips and update their personal data.

02. IRIS 12Pay for payroll management

The express edition of IRIS 12Pay payroll software is free to use for companies with up to nine employees. Payroll outsourcing services recommend IRIS 12Pay Express, which allows payroll managers to access all payroll functions in one easy-to-use platform with streamlined processes. This will not only save time, but will also ensure payroll management is compliant with the latest payroll legislation.

Since the software is easy to use, a payroll manager will learn how to best use the software in no time at all, thus saving company time and resources. The software also allows users to speed up the payroll process.

IRIS 12Pay Express is recognised by HMRC and allows users to prepare monthly, weekly, bi-weekly and four-weekly payrolls.

These features make IRIS 12Pay Express one the best payroll software for small business UK.

03.IRIS Payroll Basics is the best payroll software for small business UK

The Payroll Basics software by IRIS is another free payroll software that is used in payroll outsourcingand payroll management. It is HMRC-recognised and in compliance with RTI and automatic enrolment legislation.

This is the best payroll software for small business UK as it targets businesses with less than 10 employees. One of the key features of the IRIS Payroll Basics software is that it makes it easy to produce pension reports and also automatically calculates PAYE, NI and all other statutory payments.

The software also generates and manages mandatory employee forms. For 30 days, the software also allows users to print payslips and reports for free.

04.Stansoft for payroll management

Stansoft is a Linux financial accounting software that is simple, flexible and productive. There is no limit on the number of users per installation, making it the best payroll software for small business UK as well as large companies.

Key features of Stansoft include easy remote deployment and ability to run locally on a virtual cloud server. In addition to payroll, the software can be used for double-entry bookkeeping, accounts payable and accounts receivable, tax control, and as a general ledger.

05.EnrolPay is among the best free payroll software UK

One of the best free payroll software UK is EnrolPay’s Small Payroll software. While its assisted service and managed service is not free, EnrolPay offers a self-service option that is free for nine active employees.

The EnrolPay Small Payroll software comes with a job retention scheme (coronavirus), SSP, SMP, and SAP, and weekly, fortnightly, four weekly and monthly pay run frequency. The free software offers printable payslips, RTI to HMRC upon user submission, and manual recording for workplace pensions.

These are the five best free payroll software in the UK.