Error submitting leaver FPS

Hi there, Paul. 

I'm here to help you overcome the error message when submitting an FPS for a leaver and ensure you successfully file the document to HMRC.

Once you process the final payroll for the employee who's leaving, QuickBooks will notify you that this is their last payroll. When you submit the FPS for that payroll, we'll tell HMRC you've finished paying them.

One possible reason the error occurs when filing is due to an incorrect tax period. I recommend ensuring the dates you entered are correct. For your reference, I've added the things you need to consider when adding the dates:

• If the employee leaves in the current tax year (before the next 6 April) and you'll not be paying them a pension, put their leaving date on their payroll record when you last pay them. Make deductions when you send your next FPS.
• If you pay an employee for the last time but they’re leaving in the next tax year (on or after the next 6 April), don't put their leaving date in the same FPS as their final payment. Include them in your first FPS in the new tax year with:

• their leaving date
• ‘0’ in the ‘Pay and tax in this period’ field
• ‘0’ in the ‘Year to date’ field
• a ‘Payment date’ of the FPS payment date for the period

Then, give employees a P45 when they leave. 

Aside from that, it is important to note to send the FPS on or before your employees’ payday, even if you pay HMRC quarterly instead of monthly. Please enter the usual date you pay your employees, even if you pay them earlier or later. 

If the issue persists, I recommend clicking the Submissions to HMRC problems link in this article: Fix Payroll Errors.

Additionally, I've included these resources to help you better understand your business's financial status and ensure accurate tracking of your employees' payroll data in QuickBooks. Open the article based on the product you're using:

• Run payroll in QuickBooks Online Standard Payroll
• Run payroll reports in QuickBooks Online Advanced Payroll

You're more than welcome to drop by again if you have other questions about submitting FPS or EPS in QuickBooks. If you need assistance managing your payroll taxes, entries, and lists, please let us know, and we'll chime in to help again.

I still don't get what I'm supposed to do. If I mark as "terminated" (with termination date of the end of April) and run the payroll I get the error message as described.

The last payroll submission was for the end of March. I haven't done the end of April submission because of this error.

I don't understand about putting 0 in the "pay and tax field" as you suggest - I don't seem to have any option to modify that directly - although apparently I can edit employee hours or select a box for "Skip salary this time only".

What *exactly* should I do in order to get a submission accepted?

Thank you for getting back here, Paul.

Despite following the steps and guidelines for submitting an FPS to HMRC in QuickBooks Online and the information provided by my colleague, you're still encountering the same problem. 

I recommend using a private browser or incognito window to eliminate any errors or glitches that may be occurring in the system.

Here are the keyboard shortcuts for different browsers:

• Google Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N 
• Safari 11 or newer: ⌘ + Shift + N
• Mozilla Firefox: Shift + Ctrl + P
• Microsoft Edge: Ctrl + Shift + N

Once it works, proceed to your regular browser and clear its cache to refresh your website's preferences. Also, note the system's supported browser for the best and most secure experience.

If the issue persists, I suggest contacting our QuickBooks support team. They use specific tools to investigate the root cause of the issue and provide steps you need to take.

To learn more about how you can manage and run payroll, see this resource: QuickBooks Online Standard Payroll hub.

Also, QuickBooks Online offers several payroll reports that you can pull up to access your business and employee information. To get started, see our Payroll reports page.

Feel free to get back to this thread if you have further concerns about submitting FPS to HMRC in QuickBooks Online. I'll be around to help you in any way I can. Have a good one.