When you use the Choose Tax Year option in the payroll year end process, sometimes the current tax year isn't available.

This happens in a tax year where you didn't process any payments.

The current tax year is only available in the Payroll Year End process if you process one or more payments during the year.

As a workaround, create an employee record and process a £0.00 payment for each tax year that's missing, starting with the earliest.

Add the test employee

1. Click Employee, click Quick Employee.
2. Enter the following details:
   
   • Surname: Test
   • Forenames: Test
   • Address: Test
   • Date of Birth: 01/01/1990
3. Select No in the Have you conducted a Right to Work check dropdown.
4. In the Start Date box, enter the last day of the first tax year that's missing.
   
   NOTE:

   For example, if the first tax year that's missing is 2025/2026, enter 05/04/2026.

5. From the Payment Method dropdown, select Cash.
6. Set the tax code as 0T.
7. From the Employee provided form dropdown, select None, existing employee.
8. In the N.I. Number field, enter NA 123456 A.
9. From the N.I. category dropdown, select A - Standard Rate Contributions.
10. Select Save & Clear, then Close.

Process a payment of £0.00 in each missing tax year

1. Select the test employee on your employee list.
2. Click Payroll, click Change Process Date.
3. Enter the last day of the earliest tax year that’s missing, then click OK.
   
   NOTE:

   For example, if the first tax year that's missing is 2025/2026, enter 05/04/2026.

4. Click Enter Payments, ensure the employee's net pay is £0.00.
5. Click Save/Next then click Close.
6. Click Update Records and click Yes.
7. On each window that appears, check the details are correct, then click Next.
8. Click Finish then click OK.
9. Repeat these steps for each tax year that's missing.
10. Click Employee, click Employee Record.
11. Click Employment, enter a Leave Date that falls into the final tax year that was missing.

You can now click the Payroll Year End Choose Tax Year option, and the current tax year is available to select.