Pension Module options don't load

Summary

What to do if your Pensions Module options, such as Pension Assessment or Send Pension Data, don't load in Sage 50 Payroll.

Description

When you click the Pension Module Settings from the Company menu, or the Pension Module functions, such as Pension Assessment or Send Pension Data, they may not load.

Let's go through the steps to resolve this. Test your Pension Module options after each step.

Resolution

Optimise your data

Optimise your data from your open company screen.

Clear locks and repair

On the Windows desktop, right-click Sage 50 Payroll.
Click Properties, then click the Shortcut tab.
Click Open File Location.
Locate and double-click DBUtilities.exe.
Select the required company, then click Clear Locks.
Select the required company, then click Repair.
After a successful repair, click Repair again.
Click OK, then click Close.

Run as administrator

Close your Sage software, then right click the icon for Sage 50 Payroll and click Run as administrator. Log in as normal and test your software.

Check for Windows updates

Check if your computer has any pending Windows updates. This may be managed by your IT support. If you're not sure whether to apply any Windows updates, contact your IT support before proceeding.

If there are any updates available, save any work and close all applications, and install the updates.

Reinstall the latest version

Download and install Sage 50 Payroll to reinstall the latest version.

Reset enter payments

Click Payroll, then Change Process Date.
Set the process date to the first day of the next tax year 06/04/20XX.
Highlight any employee.
Click Enter Payments (this will show a phasing prompt for auto-enrolment, close the message).
Once Enter Payments appears, click Close.
Set the process date back to the current tax year.
Retry your Pension Module options.

Troubleshooting steps

The options below cover further reasons this error may occur, with their troubleshooting steps. Click each option below to read more.

The Open Company window displays a full path >

The Open Company window displays a full path to your data and the PayData.txt file also contains part of the path to your data.

For example, your company data is held within C:\ProgramData\Sage\Payroll\Company_001\Paydata\Payroll.mdb, the Open Company window displays: C:\ProgramData\Sage\Payroll\Company_001\Paydata\Payroll.mdb and the PayData.txt file displays C:\ProgramData\Sage\Payroll

To resolve this, you need to delete the relevant company from the Open Company window, then rebrowse to the data.

Before following these steps, Back up your data.

Log in to any company with a truncated path in the Open Company window.
A truncated path starts at the company folder, for example, Company_002\Paydata\Payroll.mdb.
Click File, then click Delete Company.
Select the company that has the full path in the Path to Data column, make a note of the path, then click OK.
When prompted that this company's entry will be removed and do you also want to permanently delete the data and directory in which it's located, click No.
If your data is on a network, you're only prompted to remove the company from the list. To continue, click Yes.
Click File, click Open Company, then click Browse.
Browse to the payroll.mbd file for the company you've removed from the list in step 3, then click Open.

The company reappears on the Open Company window with a truncated path to date and you can open it as normal.

The PayData.txt file displays invalid characters >

The PayData.txt file displays invalid characters such as :<>?*"|

To resolve this, remove the invalid character, then open Sage 50 Payroll again.

Your data is stored in the Program Files folder >

Your data is stored in the Program Files folder. To check this within Sage 50 Payroll click Help, then About and then under Program Details, check the Data directory path.

If the data is in Program Files, you must move it. To do this, reinstall Sage 50 Payroll into a new folder, ensuring that the data isn't stored in the Program Files folder. You should then create your company and restore a backup, including RTI and Pension Data files.

Back up your data.
Uninstall Sage 50 Payroll.
Press the Windows key + R.
Type cmd, then click OK.
Type cd\, then press Enter.
If the prompt C:\ doesn't appear and it shows a different drive, for example M:\, type cd c:\, click Enter.
Type del payroll.ini /s, then press Enter.
The locations of the payroll.ini file and confirmation of their deletion appear.
Type exit, then press Enter.
Download and install Sage 50 Payroll into a new folder and create your company.
Restore the backup you took in step 1, ensuring you include RTI Files and Pension Data Files.

If the issue persists

If you've installed the correct version of the software for your tax year and the problem persists, you should delete folders from the gac_msil folder.

NOTE: You must close Sage 50 Payroll before you delete these folders.

Close Sage 50 Payroll.
Press the Windows key + R, and enter the following path then click OK:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Sage\Internet Submissions\V5
TIP: This is a hidden folder that you can't browse to, you must use the above commands.
Delete the following files:
- Esubs.model
- Esubs.model.interfaces
- Esubs.view
- Esubs.viewmodel
- SgEData
- SgELauncher
  NOTE: From v27.03.211 and above, these are .dll files rather than folders.
Check that your Windows profile has full permissions to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Sage.
Reinstall Sage 50 Payroll.
If the issue still occurs, delete the above folders again, follow the Microsoft .NET Framework article, then Download and install Sage 50 Payroll.

Solution Properties

Solution ID: 200427112312000
Last Modified Date: Thu Nov 13 10:43:06 UTC 2025
Views: 0