Registering for Real Time Information (RTI)

To register for RTI, you need a Government Gateway user ID.

Do not share your Government Gateway user ID and password with anyone else.

Under Your Services, if PAYE for Employers is not listed, you need to register for this before you are able to file online.

Not activated for the service

After registering for a service, you should receive an activation code within seven days - use it once and throw it away. It will expire if you do not use it within 28 days of the date on the letter, you will have to request a new one.

You will not be able to file online unless you register for PAYE for Employers and activate this service.

Agent not registered the PAYE reference of the company

For an agent to submit RTI returns and receive PAYE message from HMRC on behalf of a client, the agent needs to be authorised by either:

• Completing paper form FBI 2- this will only give you authority to act for your clients online.

• Online authorisation process - which allows HMRC to deal with you online, by phone or in writing about each of your clients’ PAYE or CIS matters.

To submit an online authorisation request for your client, you need:

• To have registered for HMRC Online Services and enrolled for the PAYE/CIS for Agents service.

• Your client’s employer PAYE reference and Accounts Office reference.

• The authorisation code HMRC will send to your client by post - the code with PE for PAYE and CS for CIS.

The authorisation code can take up to 7 days to arrive. You need to enter the code before the client appears on your client list, so ideally you need to do this well ahead of a filing deadline. You must enter the code within 30 days from the date on the letter, or it will expire.