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Interactive Payroll Setup Guide

Explore different aspects of Irish payroll setup and compliance.

Initial Setup

PAYE Registration

Required

Register as employer with Revenue Commissioners

PRSI Registration

Required

Register for Pay Related Social Insurance

USC Setup

Required

Universal Social Charge configuration

Payroll Software

Choose Revenue-approved payroll system

Step-by-Step Payroll Setup Process

Complete checklist for setting up payroll in Ireland.

Pre-Setup Requirements

1

Company Registration

Ensure company is registered with CRO and has tax number from Revenue

2

Employment Contracts

Prepare written employment contracts complying with Irish employment law

3

Employee Information

Collect PPS numbers, bank details, tax certificates, and emergency contacts

Revenue Registration

4

PAYE/PRSI Registration

Register as employer through ROS or Form TR2. Processing takes 7-10 days

5

ROS Access Setup

Establish online access for payroll returns and payments

6

Employer Registration Number

Receive unique employer registration number for payroll submissions

System Setup

7

Choose Payroll Software

Select Revenue-approved payroll system with RPN and PSC support

8

Configure Tax Settings

Setup current PAYE, PRSI, and USC rates and thresholds

9

Test Payroll Run

Process test payroll to verify calculations and reporting

Irish Payroll Tax Rates (2025)

Current rates for PAYE, PRSI, USC, and other payroll taxes.

Employee Deductions

PAYE (Pay As You Earn)

  • • Single: 20% up to €42,000, 40% thereafter
  • • Married: 20% up to €84,000, 40% thereafter
  • • Personal credit: €1,875
  • • PAYE credit: €1,875

PRSI Class A1

  • • Employee: 4% on income over €352/week
  • • No upper limit
  • • Covers social welfare benefits
  • • State pension contributions

USC (Universal Social Charge)

  • • 0.5% on income up to €12,012
  • • 2% on income €12,013 to €22,920
  • • 4.5% on income over €22,920
  • • 8% on income over €70,044 (self-employed)

Employer Costs

PRSI Employer

  • • 11.05% on income over €352/week
  • • 8.8% on income €352-€424/week
  • • No upper limit
  • • Significant cost consideration

Additional Costs

  • • Employer liability insurance
  • • Workplace pension contributions
  • • Payroll software costs
  • • Professional payroll services

Statutory Benefits

  • • Minimum 20 days annual leave
  • • 9 public holidays
  • • Sick leave (3 days statutory)
  • • Maternity/paternity leave

Payroll Compliance Calendar

Key dates and deadlines for Irish payroll compliance.

Monthly

14th

P30 return and payment due

February

15th

P60s to employees

February

28th

P35 annual return due

Additional Compliance Requirements

  • P45 when employee leaves
  • P46 for new employees without P45
  • Benefits-in-kind reporting
  • Pension auto-enrolment preparation
  • Employment permit compliance
  • Workplace Relations Commission

Essential Payroll Software Features

Key features to look for in Irish payroll software.

Core Features

Automatic PAYE/PRSI/USC calculations
RPN (Revenue Payroll Notification) support
P30 return generation and submission
Payslip generation and distribution
Bank file generation for payments

Advanced Features

Employee self-service portal
Leave management system
Pension scheme integration
Time and attendance tracking
Benefits-in-kind reporting

Simplify Your Irish Payroll Setup

Need guidance on payroll setup? PayVat provides expert consultation and connects you with qualified payroll specialists for PAYE, PRSI, USC compliance.

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