PwC: Success of RTI implementation threatened

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

According to a PwC survey of nearly 200 HR and payroll professionals, too many employers are relying on their payroll providers to support their real time information (RTI) compliance, raising the risk that many won’t be ready in time for the April deadline. The survey also revealed that employers are most concerned about the need for system changes and interfaces under RTI, with 34% of respondents saying this is their biggest challenge. However, data collection, storage and transmission, and resource constraints followed close behind with 24% and 22% of companies, respectively, highlighting these as their main concerns.

Virtually all employers (99%) surveyed by PwC said they will need some level of support to ensure they are ready to start reporting PAYE information to HMRC in real time. But worryingly, more than half (52%) of respondents said they expect their payroll provider to supply the support required for RTI. This is despite around one in four (24%) companies believing that their payroll provider has not yet finalised their RTI compliant software. And over half (53%) are unclear whether their payroll provider has any RTI compliant software.

John Harding, human resources director at PwC commented:

“RTI is about more than simply the payroll software; the quality of the employee data and the processes for collecting and maintaining that are critical to compliance. Our survey reveals a worrying mismatch between what employers expect from their payroll providers for RTI implementation and the resources available. The majority of employers are relying on their payroll provider for support despite concerns that they have not yet finalised their compliant software. ”