Payroll & Pensions

Payroll resources

As an ICB Payroll Agent, you benefit from monthly webinars covering the latest legislative updates, plus a rich library of online resources—from budget summaries to rates and key reference documents. Need support? Our responsive telephone helpline is here for your payroll queries, and we also offer expert guidance on bookkeeping, VAT, and tax.

Get qualified as a Payroll Agent

To provide payroll services as an ICB member, you’ll need to hold the ICB Level 3 Diploma in Payroll Management (or have an approved exemption) and take up membership to actively use the designatory letters PM.Dip. You can achieve this through self-study using ICB learning resources or by enrolling with one of our accredited training providers.

HMRC Accounts for Payroll Agents: an Introduction

When providing payroll services, you may need to submit payroll data to HMRC using Real Time Information (RTI). If you're offering these services for clients, rather than your employer, you should register with HMRC as a payroll agent and add your clients to your agent list—this gives you the authority to contact HMRC on their behalf.

The process for accessing HMRC services as an agent is undergoing some considerable change. As a payroll agent, you will need to have an online account with HMRC - an Agent Online Services Account (AOSA). You may also need to obtain a tax agent code (depending on which tax service you wish to offer) and you will need to ensure that each one of your clients authorises you to act on their behalf for each service you carry out for them. 

For further details on how to register and set yourself up as a payroll agent follow the instructions on our Tax Agents page here.

Resources for Payroll Agents

Payroll Webinars

Catch up on the latest Wages Wednesday

Payroll agents benefit from a monthly webinar with ICB's Payroll Expert, Ian Holloway.

Watch here

Latest news

Relevant information for payroll processing

Catch up on the governmental announcements and updates from HMRC.

Read here

Tailored documents for payroll professionals

Ensure you have up to date information with our range of documents created specifically for ICB Payroll Agents.

Downloadable document

P11D guidance

Bookkeeping professionals are (or will be) preparing for P11D submissions (due by 06 July 2024). As guidance and advice documents are not in one place, the ICB has consolidated this for the benefit of members in one convenient document. P11D and P11D(b) links for bookkeepers

Read here

Downloadable document

Payroll Library

ICB has collated a shortcut to HMRC's essential payroll booklets, tables, advice and leaflets in one convenient document. This document contains essential information on Income Tax, National Insurance, Student Loans and Statutory Payments.

Access here

Downloadable document

Useful documents for Payroll Agents

ICB produces up to date documents relevant to payroll & pensions which can be accessed here.

Read here

Downloadable document

Budget reports

Budget update reports written specifically for bookkeepers.

Access here

Downloadable document

Jargon busters

Bookkeeping, payroll and HR departments in the United Kingdom are faced on a daily basis with a multitude of forms, terminology, initialisms and acronyms. ICB has compiled a list of common ‘jargon’. Whilst we do not attempt to cover or explain these in detail, we have included a document that we hope is helpful.

Read here

Downloadable document

Rates and Allowances

At the start of each tax year, payroll professionals have many changes of rates and allowances to familiarise themselves with. All these new rates and allowances have been put into one document, along with a document for the previous year's rates and allowances. This is created specifically so that the information is in one place in a convenient format, allowing this to be the ‘one-stop’ document for bookkeeping and payroll professionals.

Access here

Payroll is a small but very important part of my business and a regular check-in with Ian's Wages Wednesday webinar helps keep me focused on new developments that will affect me and my clients.

Kirsty St John C.MICB PM.Dip