Why Look for a Basic PAYE Tools Alternative?
HMRC's Basic PAYE Tools continues through 2030 under a new contract, but it has significant limitations:
- No payslip generation — you need separate software
- No auto-enrolment pension support — The Pensions Regulator warns BPT users may assess incorrectly
- Limited to 9 employees
- Desktop-only (Windows/Mac/Linux)
IRIS Payroll Basics IS being discontinued after April 2026, affecting 40,000+ UK businesses who need an alternative.
ByteLogic offers payslips, auto-enrolment support, and a modern cloud interface — features Basic PAYE Tools lacks.
Basic PAYE Tools vs ByteLogic
⚠️ Basic PAYE Tools (Limitations)
- ❌ No payslip generation
- ❌ No auto-enrolment support
- ❌ Limited to 9 employees
- ❌ Desktop software only
- ❌ Dated interface
- ✅ Direct RTI submission
- ✅ Continues through 2030
✅ ByteLogic Free (Now)
- ✅ Free forever — no credit card
- ✅ Payslips & P60s included
- ✅ Pension auto-enrolment
- ✅ Bookkeeping & reports
- ✅ Cloud-based — any device
- ✅ Invoicing & time tracking
- ⏳ Direct RTI coming in Pro
What's Included Free (Up to 5 Employees)?
- Payroll with payslips & P60s
- PAYE and National Insurance calculations
- FPS XML export (for manual HMRC upload)
- Pension auto-enrolment
- Bookkeeping & bank reconciliation
- P&L & Balance Sheet reports
- Dividend management
- Director's loan tracking
- Invoicing (up to 10/month) with PDF and email
- Time tracking for contractors
- Cloud storage — access from anywhere
Free tier limits: 5 employees, 5 clients, 10 invoices/month. No credit card required.
Coming Soon (Pro Plan — £19/month):
- Direct RTI submission to HMRC (no manual upload)
- Open Banking integration
- VAT MTD submission
- CT600 Corporation Tax filing
- Companies House iXBRL filing
- Multi-currency support
- Unlimited employees, invoices & users
Pro tier pending HMRC vendor approval. Early adopter price: £19/month (usually £29).
Getting Started — Free in 3 Steps
Step 1: Sign up for free
Create your ByteLogic account — takes 2 minutes, no credit card required.
Step 2: Add your employees
Enter your employees' details including NI number, tax code, and salary.
Step 3: Run payroll & generate payslips
Calculate pay and deductions, generate payslips and P60s. Download FPS XML and upload to HMRC manually — or wait for direct RTI submission coming soon in Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ByteLogic really free?
Yes — the free tier is free forever, no credit card required. It includes payroll with payslips & P60s, bookkeeping, reports, pension auto-enrolment, dividends, director's loan tracking, invoicing (up to 10/month), and time tracking for up to 5 employees. Our Pro tier (£19/month, coming soon) adds direct RTI submission, Open Banking, VAT MTD, CT600, Companies House filing, and unlimited usage.
Can ByteLogic submit RTI directly to HMRC?
Not yet. Currently, ByteLogic generates FPS XML files that you can download and upload to HMRC Government Gateway manually. Direct RTI submission is coming soon in the Pro tier, pending HMRC vendor approval.
Why should I sign up now?
You can use ByteLogic free today for payroll with payslips & P60s, bookkeeping, reports, pension auto-enrolment, invoicing, and time tracking. When direct RTI submission launches in Pro, you'll already be set up and can seamlessly upgrade.
What if I need direct RTI submission now?
For now, you can use Basic PAYE Tools (continues through 2030) or another HMRC-recognized provider. ByteLogic's direct submission is coming soon in Pro. In the meantime, the free tier already includes payslips, P60s, auto-enrolment, bookkeeping, and cloud access — features BPT lacks.