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How to study payroll

  • Member PM.Dip
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  • 195 posts
  • # 77661

I haven't ever done payroll and hadn't studied it but thought I'd just take the exam after reading a book called "Payroll in 90 minutes" Surprised
I achieved 73% in the exam, which although it's a fail is better than I was expecting due to the lack of study. My problem with resitting it is that I cannot justify a cost for a course of over £400 which is the cost of most of the training providers and the ICB themselves do not produce a textbook for Payroll.

It seems to be an omission in the range of texts to me, that you can buy Level 1, 2 and 3 and self assessment textbooks either produced by Kaplan or the ICB themselves, but cannot do the same for Payroll.

Which texts did any of you use to study payroll, not including those who paid hundreds of pounds for tutor supported courses? Obviously the HMRC website is a great source of information but I'm looking for a book (or two or three books) that will enable me to learn and pass the exam second time around.

 

  • Fellow PM.Dip
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  • # 77663

I used Sage 50 Payroll study guides and free software (licensed for 180 days); it cost about £120 from an online company called Advantage (which I saw advertised on an ebay page when I was looking to see what was available on ebay).  It was excellent and very thorough, and got me through with no difficulty.  If you shop around on the internet you might even find it cheaper.

Good luck in your re-sit.

 

  • Fellow PM.Dip
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  • 424 posts
  • # 77674

Hi

For what it's worth, this is the way I studied as I in the situation where I have little or no spare cash.

I used Sage 50 Payroll and lots of information from the HMRC website. I found the method that was easiest for me was to download a mock exam from the shop (complete with answers), then work through it. Anything that I got wrong, go back study and work through it again.

I did this until I was satisfied (which takes some doing Wink) then went ahead with the exam. I achieved 90%. Disappointing but I think it was down to some of the reports (or lack of) with the software. Either way it was a pass.

Hope this helps in your decision.

  • Member PM.Dip
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  • 194 posts
  • # 77678

Hi Clare,

I bought the Sage Instant payroll self-study guide from Amazon.  Cost about £36 at the time and includes a 180 day trial of the software (with option to pay to convert to full version at the end of the trial) and 5 or 6 study books which included manual payroll as well.  I also downloaded various helpbooks to do with payroll from HMRC website and saved them as pdf's   Somewhere on this site  (I think) I gave someone a list of the helpbooks I downloaded, but can't find it now!  If you would like the list I will re-create it :-)

Pauline

  • 62 posts
  • # 83272

Pauline,

I notice you mentioned that you had a list of helpbooks that you downloaded from the HMRC website and had posted the list on this forum; can't find it anywhere and wandered if you may be able to reproduce it?

Many thanks

  • 220 posts
  • # 83280

Hi Pauline

It was me you gave the details to before, and I've managed to find the original thread.  I actually completed the Payroll exam on Sunday and mailed it back today for marking, fingers crossed.   There wasn't much I needed to loook up for the exam, 95% was covered by the Sage course - so I'm really pleased with the bargain. (that is assuming I've passed - but I am quietly confident).

Details as follows:

The ones I downloaded were:-
NI tables - CA38 & CA41
PAYE & NI rates and limits -  E12
Taxable pay tables A
Taxable pay tables Calculator method
Taxable pay tables Manual method
Statutory Sick Pay -  E14
Statutory Maternity Pay -  E15
Statutory Adoption Pay -  E16
Statutory Paternity Pay -  E19
Collection of Student Loans -  E17
Student Loan deduction tables  SL3
NI for Directors -  CA44
Day to day payroll -  E13
Further Guide to PAYE and NICs -  CWG2
Class 1A NI contributions on benefits in kind - CWG5

and a few other forms that I wanted to look at as I went along.  You may feel you don't need all of those, but I always work on overkill  :-)  You should also make sure you download the correct forms for the tax year that you are intending to take the exam.  I did 2010 - 2011.
Hope this helps.
Pauline
   
Thanks again for your help on this.
xx  

  • Member PM.Dip
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  • # 83288

Well done Andrea.  I looked for them last night, but couldn't find the thread! lol  (or rather I clicked on "Member posts" and the "page couldn't be displayed" or some other error.  (Is it me, or is this site a bit wobbly lately?)

Fingers crossed for your payroll result!

Pauline 

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