Payroll software from EARNIE - the payroll people

Christmas payroll FAQs

How do I reset my holidays at the end of the holiday year?

Go to the Company menu/Holiday Set-up and click on the 'Reset Holiday' button.
You will then be warned "This will Reset the holiday remaining for ALL employees. Are you sure you want to reset holidays?" Say yes if you are sure. 

You will then be asked "Do you want to add any remaining holiday to the annual entitlement?" Say yes if you want your employees to carry over any holidays they have not taken to the next year. Otherwise say no. 

You will be asked "Do you want to zero amounts accrued for employees on accrual basis?" Say no if you want your employees to carry over any accrued amounts for holidays to the new year. Otherwise say yes. 

Your holidays have now been cleared down. Click on the button Holiday Reset Complete.


How do I pay a net bonus?

Go to Company / Alter Payments/Deductions and use the wizard to configure a
net to gross single payment. You can call this payment anything you like, such as 'Christmas Bonus'. If you are comfortable not using the wizard configure a new payment with a category of 'Net to gross single payment'.

In the payroll screen for the employee(s) you wish to pay the bonus to, click on the next available free line under the Pay/Ded section. Choose the new net-to-gross single payment from the drop down list.

Enter the amount of net bonus you want to pay the employee in the 'Amount' field.
Preview the payroll and you will see the grossed up value of the bonus under the payments section.


A student has joined my payroll over the Christmas period. What should I do about Tax/NI?

Provided they have filled out a P38S, students should be set to a tax code of NI and A rate NI. If they haven't completed a P38S they have to fill in a P46 and be coded accordingly. We recommend you double check any new tax codes or NI rates with your tax office.


How do I pay more than 1 weeks wages before Christmas?

To pay more than one week for an individual employee:

  • Ensure the Holiday setup is configured correctly both under the Company menu and the Salary Tab in the employee's record
  • At payroll run time click on the Holiday button under the Absence section of the payroll screen
  • Advance the payroll by the required number of weeks and click OK

To pay more than one week for the whole payroll:

  • Alter the pay period on the Do Payroll run screen to the period you are paying up to (e.g. If you are paying week 37, and want to pay 38 as well  change the 37 to 38)
  • Run the payroll as normal

Both these methods will run the payroll over the required number of periods and will calculate tax and NI accordingly.


How do I rectify running my company on the wrong tax / NI rates?

First of all, you will need to make sure you are running on the most up-to-date version of the software and that the correct tax year is selected in company details.
Once this has been amended anyone on a cumulative tax code will have their tax automatically rectified during the next payroll run.

If there has been a change in the NI rate, or if you have anyone on a week 1/month 1 tax code, please contact Support or call 0844 815 5671.


How do I reset my holidays at the end of the holiday year?

  • Go to the Company menu/Holiday Set-up and click on the 'Reset Holiday' button
  • You will then be warned "This will Reset the holiday remaining for all employees
  • Are you sure you want to reset holidays?" Say yes if you are sure 
  • You will then be asked "Do you want to add any remaining holiday to the annual entitlement?" Say yes if you want your employees to carry over any holidays they have not taken to the next year. Otherwise say no
  • You will be asked "Do you want to zero amounts accrued for employees on accrual basis?" Say no if you want your employees to carry over any accrued amounts for holidays to the new year. Otherwise say yes
  • Your holidays have now been cleared down. Click on the button Holiday Reset Complete

Can I print off the tax and NI rates for my company as requested by HMRC auditors?

Yes. Go to Reports and Print tax and NI rates.


Can I make a Company Copy?

Yes you can.  The copy option  is found in EARNIE Admin.

Select File followed by Copmanies then Copy. You choose which company you wish to copy and enter a New Company Name. You then have 3 copy options:

1. Company Details Only
2. Exact Copy
3. For Receivership

Company Details Only

This creates a copy of the chosen company details only. No employee details are copied to the new company. See your manual for more details.

Exact Copy

This copies everything held for the company including employee details and leaver information. It can be used at year end to make a mirror image of your company before closing it down.

For Receivership

This option creates a new company and copies across all of the employees as though they were new starters to the company. The existing Taxable Gross YTD and Tax Paid YTD are set as the employees P45 figures in the new company. When choosing this option you are asked for further information, such as setting a new Date Started in the employees details and whether you want to copy leavers. See your manual for more details on these options before you embark on a receivership copy. 

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