---
title: "Your first payroll: what to expect"
description: "Your first payroll: what to expect"
---

[Skip to content](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-first-payroll-what-to-expect#main-content)

[![image 4](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/hubfs/image%204.svg)](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/)

- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)
- [Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)

[Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Accounting Service](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service?hsLang=en-gb)
2. [Paying Yourself and Employees](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb)
3. [Payroll Essentials for New Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#payroll-essentials-for-new-directors)

# Your first payroll: what to expect

## What we do on the first payroll run and what you need to do

Your first payroll run sets up the pattern for all future months. Here is what happens and what you need to confirm.

### What we do on the first run

We create your employee record in Xero Payroll with your name, National Insurance number, tax code from your P45 or starter declaration, and salary. We run the first payroll, calculate the correct PAYE and National Insurance contributions (NIC), generate your payslip, and submit the Full Payment Submission to HMRC. We confirm the first net pay amount and the PAYE liability due to HMRC.

### What you do

Transfer your net salary to your personal bank account on the pay date. Pay the PAYE liability (Income Tax plus Employee and Employer NIC) to HMRC by the 22nd of the following month using the reference we provide. Reconcile both payments in Xero during bank reconciliation.

💡 **Important:** The first PAYE payment is often the one most commonly missed by new directors because it is due a month after the first payroll, not immediately. Mark the 22nd in your calendar.

### Not found what you're looking for?

Please get in touch and we'll be happy to help:

**Email:** You can submit a request using our [contact form](https://forms.1stformations.co.uk/contact/)

**Phone:** 020 3897 2233

**Live Chat:** Select the live chat icon on the bottom right

- [Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Understanding Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#understanding-your-plan)
    - [Compliance Included in Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#compliance-included-in-your-plan)
    - [Your Xero Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#your-xero-plan)
    - [Add-ons Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#add-ons-explained)
- [Working with Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [How to Contact Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#how-to-contact-us)
    - [Your Accountant and Support Team](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#your-accountant-and-support-team)
    - [Keeping Your Details Up to Date](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#keeping-your-details-up-to-date)
- [New Company Essentials](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Getting Started](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started)
    - [Before and Beyond Trading](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#before-and-beyond-trading)
- [What You Can and Can't Claim](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Benefits, Perks, and Grey Areas](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#benefits-perks-and-grey-areas)
    - [Mileage, Travel and Subsistence](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#mileage-travel-and-subsistence)
- [Xero Training and Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Weekly Xero Training Sessions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#weekly-xero-training-sessions)
    - [Xero Health Checks](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#xero-health-checks)
    - [Syft Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#syft-analytics)
- [Tax Reviews and Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Annual Tax Efficiency Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#annual-tax-efficiency-review)
    - [Quarterly Business Performance Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#quarterly-business-performance-review)
    - [Topical Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#topical-webinars)
- [Bookkeeping Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Day-to-Day Bookkeeping Workflow](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#day-to-day-bookkeeping-workflow)
    - [Bank Reconciliation](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#bank-reconciliation)
    - [Recording Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#recording-sales-and-purchases)
    - [Managing Receipts and Best Practice](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#managing-receipts-and-best-practice)
- [VAT Registration and Submissions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Do I Need to Register for VAT](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#do-i-need-to-register-for-vat)
    - [Submitting VAT Returns](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#submitting-vat-returns)
    - [VAT on Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-on-sales-and-purchases)
    - [VAT Payments and Schemes](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-payments-and-schemes)
- [Paying Yourself and Employees](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Paying Directors: Salary vs Dividends](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#paying-directors-salary-vs-dividends)
    - [Your Payslip and National Insurance](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#your-payslip-and-national-insurance)
    - [Dividends: Legal Process](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#dividends-legal-process)
    - [Payroll Essentials for New Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#payroll-essentials-for-new-directors)
    - [Hiring and Employment Status](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#hiring-and-employment-status)
- [Corporation Tax and Year-End](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Corporation Tax Fundamentals](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#corporation-tax-fundamentals)
    - [Allowable Expenses and Year-End Planning](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#allowable-expenses-and-year-end-planning)
    - [PAYE and Payroll Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#paye-and-payroll-basics)
    - [Director's Loan and HMRC Communications](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#directors-loan-and-hmrc-communications)
    - [Losses, Rates and Reliefs](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#losses-rates-and-reliefs)
- [Invoices & Payments](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Creating Invoices and Getting Paid](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#creating-invoices-and-getting-paid)
    - [Invoice Numbering and Record Keeping](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#invoice-numbering-and-record-keeping)
- [Personal Tax for Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Drawing Money from Your Company](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#drawing-money-from-your-company)
    - [Self Assessment Practical Guide](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#self-assessment-practical-guide)
    - [National Insurance and Benefits](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#national-insurance-and-benefits)
    - [Household Finances](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#household-finances)
- [Using Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Getting Started with Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started-with-xero)
    - [Bank Feeds and Making Tax Digital](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#bank-feeds-and-making-tax-digital)
    - [Xero for VAT and Payroll](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#xero-for-vat-and-payroll)
- [Understanding your Numbers](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Key Accounting Terms Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#key-accounting-terms-explained)
    - [Reading your Financial Reports](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#reading-your-financial-reports)
    - [Using Your Numbers to Make Decisions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#using-your-numbers-to-make-decisions)
    - [Your Compliance Calendar](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#your-compliance-calendar)

- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy

[![1stformations logo white](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/1stformations%20logo%20white.png?width=142&height=30&name=1stformations%20logo%20white.png "1stformations logo white")](https://www.1stformations.co.uk)

<https://www.facebook.com/> <https://www.twitter.com/> <https://www.instagram.com/> <https://podcasts.apple.com/> [mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)

 Copyright 2026 © 1st Formations  
We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation™