When an FPS shows as failed, or the RTI credentials check fails, the cause is almost always in your own settings rather than at HMRC. Check these points in order. Most failures are fixed at the first or second.
Is Test mode switched on?
This is the most common cause. In Settings > HMRC / RTI, Test mode sends your submissions to HMRC's test service instead of the live one. It is useful while you set up, but while it is on, nothing is recorded against your PAYE scheme and the FPS for a real payroll run cannot go through. Switch Test mode off, save, and try again.
Are my PAYE references split correctly?
Your Employer PAYE reference, for example 126/U148, is held in two fields. The Tax Office Number takes the three digits before the slash (126). The Tax Office Reference takes only what comes after the slash (U148). If the full reference, slash included, is in the Tax Office Reference field, HMRC rejects the FPS because the reference does not match your record, even though the credentials are accepted. Check the Accounts Office reference at the same time: 13 characters, exactly as HMRC issued it.
Are my credentials the right ones?
Enter the user ID and password you use to sign in to PAYE Online for employers. Type them rather than pasting them, because a pasted space at the start or end is enough to fail the check. Being able to sign in to HMRC with the same details is a good sign, but it does not rule out the first two causes above.
I fixed the cause: how do I resubmit?
A failed FPS cannot be deleted, and resubmitting it sends the same content again, so it fails again. Leave it where it is. Reopen the payroll run, finalise it again, and Moonworkers creates a new FPS for the period. Submit that new one. The failed submission stays in your history as a record.
How do I know HMRC has accepted it?
The FPS shows as accepted in Moonworkers once HMRC confirms receipt. HMRC's own online account can take a day or two to show the figures, so check there after a couple of days rather than straight away.
Still failing?
Contact us from the chat. We will give you an address to invite as a team member, so we can look at your employer settings and the submission with you rather than answering blind.
Get started
Go to Settings > HMRC / RTI to check Test mode and your credentials. Not signed in yet? Log in at https://payroll.moonworkers.co.uk/auth/login