Mandatory Payrolling of Benefits in Kind: UK Employer & Employee Guide (April 2027)

Published: July 2026 | Fact-Checked & Audited By: David Vance, CTA FCA (Chartered Tax Advisor & Accountant)

This guide is fully updated for the 2026/27 HMRC tax year and complies with the latest HMRC legislation.

The UK government has officially confirmed the introduction of mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BiKs) starting 6 April 2027. This is a massive change for both employers and employees. Employers will no longer be allowed to report key benefits (like company cars, fuel, and medical insurance) via year-end P11D forms. Instead, they must calculate and deduct the appropriate tax directly from employees’ wages through their monthly payroll software (PAYE), which you can model in real-time with our Payslip Estimator.

Mandatory Payrolling Timeline (April 2027 & April 2028)

To give businesses sufficient time to adapt their payroll software systems, HMRC is rolling out mandatory payrolling in two distinct phases:

PhaseEffective DateCovered Benefits in Kind (BiKs)
Phase 16 April 2027Company Cars, Car Fuel, Private Medical Insurance, and Gym Memberships. You can run BIK cost comparisons using our Company Car Tax Calculator.
Phase 26 April 2028All remaining benefits in kind, including accommodation, interest-free loans, and assets.

How Mandatory Payrolling of BiKs Affects Take-Home Pay

Currently, under the legacy P11D system, an employee receives a benefit in kind (such as private healthcare) and the tax is collected in the *following* tax year by modifying their tax code (e.g. reducing their personal allowance from 1257L to a lower code). This creates a delay between receiving the benefit and paying the tax.

Under the new 2027 mandatory payrolling rules:

  • Real-Time Tax Deductions: The cash equivalent of the benefit is divided by your payroll frequency (e.g., 12 for monthly payroll) and added to your gross pay *only for tax calculation purposes*.
  • Immediate Budgeting: Your monthly take-home pay will be lower immediately during the month you enjoy the benefit, but your tax code will remain clean and stable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the deadline for mandatory payrolling of BIK company cars?
A: Mandatory payrolling for company cars and medical benefits starts on 6 April 2027. Employers must be registered and using compatible real-time PAYE software by this date.
Q: How does benefits payrolling affect monthly take-home pay?
A: It reduces your monthly take-home pay in real-time. Instead of receiving a lower tax code next year, the cash value of your benefit is added to your taxable income each month, meaning the tax is deducted immediately.
Q: Will Form P11D be abolished in the UK?
A: Yes, Form P11D will eventually be abolished. Once Phase 2 is fully implemented in April 2028, employers will no longer submit year-end P11D forms because all benefits will be processed dynamically through payroll.