CFS 941/940 vs HMRC Basic PAYE Tools
CFS 941/940
taxtools.com
HMRC Basic PAYE Tools
gov.ukSide by side
| Figure | CFS 941/940 | HMRC Basic PAYE Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · Payroll Tax Software | 7.7 (#15) | 8.5 (#6) |
| Hardware requirements | CFS lists a minimum of 100 MB of hard drive space and processor and RAM appropriate for the operating system. | Minimum hardware is an Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 or AMD equivalent, 4 GB RAM, an 80 GB 7200-rpm disk and DirectX 11-capable graphics. |
| Integrations | CFS says 941/940 fully integrates with its W2/1099 and Payroll Corrector programs. | It can be used alongside commercial payroll software to check an employee’s National Insurance number or send an Employer Payment Summary when that software cannot do those tasks. |
| Support | CFS lists customer service and technical support at 800-343-1157 and office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. PDT, extended to 5:00 p.m. in December and January. | The user guide directs employers to HMRC’s technical support helpline when they cannot submit a correction after a failed submission. |
Plans
CFS 941/940
- 941/940 — Renewal$184, paid once
- 941/940 PSAF — First-Time Purchase$194, paid once
- Payroll System PS Network Upgrade Only$234, paid once
- 941/940 Renewal plus Network Upgrade$418, paid once
- 941/940 PSAF plus Network Upgrade — First-Time Purchase$428, paid once
In their own words
CFS 941/940
CFS 941/940 has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
HMRC Basic PAYE Tools
HMRC Basic PAYE Tools is free payroll software for employers with fewer than 10 employees. It calculates employee tax and National Insurance, sends payroll information to HMRC, and supports Full Payment Submissions and Employer Payment Summaries. Employers can add details for up to nine employees and use calculators for statutory sick, maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental bereavement, and neonatal care pay. The tool can create payslips to save as PDFs, print, or email with employee agreement. It can also be used alongside commercial payroll software for certain National Insurance number checks or Employer Payment Summary submissions. Employers need to register with HMRC and have a PAYE Online login before using it. The software runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It does not support pension auto-enrolment or pension contribution calculations, and employers must secure and back up payroll data themselves; HMRC does not keep a copy or recover lost data.