Step 1: Check your payroll
Before you set up a workplace pension, you’ll need to check your payroll provider can produce data files in the correct format to work with now:pensions. Our system works with most payroll software.
You’ll need to be able to download CSV files with details of your clients’ workers and the payments they make to their pension savings. This is your pension data file and it drives everything to do with auto enrolment.
Find out more about pension data files.
Step 2: Set up now:u
Go to Get started.
Put in your name, email address and mobile number. To use your email address as your username, choose Check username. If that name’s not available, choose another username (it doesn’t have to be an email address).
Set your password.
Once you’ve ticked the next couple of boxes choose Continue and Send security code. We’ll send a 6-digit security code to the email address you gave us. Put it in and choose Confirm. You’ll see Nearly done and a message asking you to confirm your mobile number when you first log in.
You can now log in using your username and password.
Step 3: Set up your payroll bureau
Once you’ve logged in to now:u, go to Organisation details and fill in the details it asks for.
If you don’t know your company registration number, choose Where can I find this? You’ll see a link to Companies House where you can search for your registration number.
Still can’t find it? Choose I don’t have a registration number.
Put in your bureau’s name. Under Type of organisation, choose Payroll bureau. Put in your bureau’s registered address.
Tick the box if this is also the address we should use to contact you – including for things like contractual issues or formal notices. If it’s not, put in the address we should use to contact you.
Put in your payroll software provider and product.
Choose your number of clients from the drop-down list.
Tell us how you heard about now:pensions using the drop-down list.
Tick the box to confirm you’ve read, understand and agree to the terms of use and privacy policy.
Step 4: Check your details
You’ll see all the details you’ve put in so far. Check they’re correct. Use the Back button at the bottom of the page if you need to go back and change anything.
At the top of the page you’ll see your payroll bureau registration number. Make a note of this. You’ll need to give this number if you contact us to discuss anything. You’ll also need it to connect with your clients.
When you’re happy with all your details, choose Submit.
Step 5: Finish and log in
You’ll see All done! and a Log in button. Log in using the username and password you’ve set up. You’ll see your dashboard.
Almost there?
If we need to make extra checks, you’ll go to Almost there! instead of All done!
This screen will tell you what’s happening – for example, whether we need to send a form to your bureau’s address for you to fill in – before we can finish setting up your account. We’ll send you an email when your account is set up.
Step 6: Add users and workplaces
As the person who set up the payroll bureau account, you are automatically a super user. This means that, as well as managing your clients’ accounts and adding workplaces, you can add, remove or edit access levels for other bureau users.
Choose Bureau settings to add other users. Find out more about adding and changing bureau users.
You can add your clients by choosing Add new workplace. If your clients are already set up with now:pensions, you can simply send them your payroll bureau registration number. Find out more about adding workplaces.
Step 7: Set up payrolls
You can now set up payrolls and add bank details for your clients.
Find out more about setting up payrolls.
Step 8: Choose contribution models
Your contribution model sets the contributions your clients and their workers pay to the pension. Ask your workplace which contribution model or models they want to use.
Find out more about setting up contribution models.
