Year-to-date, abbreviated YTD, is the accumulated total of a payroll figure from the start of the tax year up to the current period. Each pay run adds its amounts to the YTD running totals.
What it means
YTD figures let payroll smooth tax over the year rather than treating each period in isolation. When an irregular payment lands, the calculation looks at the YTD position to work out the right PAYE, so the employee is not over-taxed in that single period. YTD totals also underpin the year-end reconciliation.
Where it fits in
YTD accumulates within one tax year and resets when the next begins on 1 March. It feeds annualisation of irregular amounts and is the basis for the EMP501 reconciliation and the IRP5, both of which report the year's totals. Mid-year onboarding captures take-on YTD values so the figures stay correct.
Key rules
- Running total of a figure from the 1 March tax-year start.
- Resets at the beginning of each tax year.
- Used to tax irregular payments correctly and to average PAYE.
- The basis for the EMP501 reconciliation and the IRP5 totals.
