A BEWDLEY accountant is warning Wyre Forest businesses of changes to how staff payments are recorded.

Anita Stewart said the new PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) rules, which come into effect in April, could cause “significant” problems for businesses in the district.

Under the new RTI rules, businesses will be required to instantly send electronic details to HM Revenue and Customs as soon as salaries are paid to employees, rather than annually.

Ms Stewart, partner at Bewdley accountancy firm DHJH, said: “HMRC has piloted the RTI scheme since last year but it’s clear that some firms across the Wyre Forest are not only blissfully unaware of the new system but that those who are gearing for change have hit the panic button as the timescale for compliance draws closer.”