💼 Startup payroll — KEEP, R&D and scaling

Payroll That Keeps Pace
With Your Startup.

Forti runs payroll for Irish startups that need more than payslips. PAYE, USC, PRSI, Revenue submissions, KEEP1 reporting, R&D-ready records, MyFutureFund and remote-hire guidance — all connected to the accounting.

Get a free startup payroll review →
Map your payroll setup against hiring plans, share options and R&D activity.
Core payroll from €30 + VAT per employee per month.
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Core payroll built to scale
PAYE, USC, PRSI, Revenue submissions, payslips and payroll journals on every pay run.
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KEEP share options
KEEP1 tracked and filed by the 31 March deadline — from the first grant, not the first exercise.
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R&D tax credit alignment
Payroll records structured to support qualifying salary costs and the 95% simplification rule.
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Scaling and remote hires
Full employment cost modelling, MyFutureFund and remote-hire flags before offers are issued.
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Core payroll from
€30 + VAT per employee/month
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KEEP1 deadline
31 March following the option year
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R&D credit rate (2026)
35% of qualifying expenditure
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Based in
Sandyford, Dublin 18

The right startup payroll partner for you if

This service is for founders who want payroll set up properly now, without creating problems for a future funding round, option exercise or R&D claim.

You are hiring your first employee or preparing for rapid recruitment
You plan to grant KEEP share options and want annual reporting tracked from the start
You are claiming, or expect to claim, the R&D Corporation Tax Credit
You need payroll records that are clear enough for investors, lenders and due diligence
You may hire employees outside Ireland and need the payroll implications understood before any offer is made
You want one team coordinating payroll with your wider tax and accounting work

Why startup payroll is genuinely different

Standard payroll handles the calculations. Startup payroll needs the records, reporting and planning around them.

⏱️ Payroll reporting happens in real time
Irish employers must report payroll information to Revenue on or before the day an employee is paid. It cannot be left until year-end. A reliable process matters from the first payslip — delays or corrections create Revenue exposure that is difficult to explain in a funding round.
📊 KEEP has an annual return you cannot overlook 31 March deadline
A company operating KEEP must file Form KEEP1 by 31 March following the year in which reportable option events occurred. Missing the deadline can put the tax-favoured treatment at risk. The calendar should be set up as soon as the first options are granted — not when the March reminder arrives.
🔬 R&D claims depend on supporting records 35% credit rate
For accounting periods ending 31 December 2026 or later, the R&D Corporation Tax Credit rate is 35% and the first-instalment threshold is €87,500. Where an employee performs at least 95% of their duties in qualifying R&D, 100% of their emoluments may be included — provided the records support the claim.
🌍 A remote employee may not belong on Irish payroll Check before the offer
Where someone works outside Ireland, standard Irish payroll may not be sufficient. Local payroll registration, tax advice or an Employer of Record may be required. Review the position before the offer letter is signed — not after the first payslip.

KEEP share options and payroll reporting

KEEP can help a qualifying startup reward key employees without creating an Income Tax, USC or PRSI charge when qualifying options are exercised. Capital Gains Tax may arise later when the shares are sold. Eligibility should be checked before the grant — not after it.

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What Forti handles
Grants, exercises, transfers and releases tracked for the annual KEEP1 return. Form KEEP1 prepared and filed through ROS by 31 March. Records kept organised for future exercises and due diligence. Coordination with your legal advisers where the scheme needs wider input.
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What your legal adviser usually handles
The option scheme rules, board and shareholder approvals, share rights, vesting terms and leaver provisions. Legal advice on company law, employment law and shareholder arrangements sits with the legal team — Forti handles the payroll, tax reporting and accounting records.
Unapproved share options follow different rules. For gains realised from 1 January 2024, employers generally operate Income Tax, USC and PRSI through payroll when an unapproved option is exercised. The company also has annual RSS1 reporting, normally due by 31 March. The older employee RTSO1 process generally applies to gains realised before 2024, not current exercises.

Payroll records that support your R&D claim

Payroll is often one of the largest costs in a startup R&D claim. The salary figure alone is not enough — a clear link between the employee, the duties performed and the qualifying R&D activity is required.

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Employee-level records
Role descriptions and qualifying project responsibilities. Time records that support the claimed percentage. Clear treatment of bonuses, benefits and employer costs. All separated by employee and period.
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Claim-ready reporting
Payroll totals reconciled to the general ledger. Qualifying employee costs separated from other payroll. Figures aligned with the Corporation Tax return and claim schedule before submission.
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The 95% simplification rule
At least 95% of an employee's duties must relate to qualifying R&D for 100% of their emoluments to be included. Supporting records still matter if Revenue reviews the claim — even where the simplification applies.
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KEEP and R&D can coexist
They address different matters. KEEP relates to qualifying share-option gains. The R&D credit relates to qualifying company expenditure. Each set of conditions must be met separately, but both can apply to the same employee.
Keep payroll, bookkeeping, Corporation Tax and year-end reporting coordinated as the business grows. View limited company accounting →

MyFutureFund and the real cost of hiring

MyFutureFund began collecting contributions on 1 January 2026. The employer contribution sits alongside salary and employer PRSI — and should be in the budget before the offer is made.

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Employer contribution rates (2026–2028)
For 2026 to 2028, qualifying employees contribute 1.5% of gross pay, the employer matches 1.5% and the State contributes 0.5%. Forti models the full employment cost before any offer is issued so the first payroll run does not reveal a budget surprise.
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Check before you issue the offer
The full employment cost, payroll registration, pension position, working location and share-option terms are all relevant before the employment contract is signed. It is far easier to fix the structure before the employee starts than to correct it after.

Payroll set-up, step-child by step-child

1
Free startup payroll review
We map the current team, hiring plan, pay frequency, share options, R&D activity and any international hires — then confirm the scope and fee before work begins.
2
Employer registration and payroll set-up
Employer PAYE registration confirmed, employee details collected, Revenue Payroll Notifications obtained and payroll schedule configured.
3
First payroll run
Pay, PAYE, USC, PRSI, benefits and MyFutureFund contributions calculated where applicable. Payslips issued and payroll submitted to Revenue on or before payday.
4
Ongoing payroll processing
Starters, leavers, bonuses, corrections and recurring pay runs handled through one consistent process — not rebuilt for every change.
5
Year-round coordination
KEEP1, RSS1, R&D support and Corporation Tax reporting kept aligned with the wider accounting calendar throughout the year.

What is included

🧾 Every pay run
  • PAYE, USC and PRSI calculations
  • Payslips and payroll reports
  • Revenue submission on or before payday
  • Payroll journals for the accounts
👥 Employee changes
  • New starters and leavers
  • Bonuses, benefits and variable pay
  • Corrections and payroll queries
  • Revenue Payroll Notification checks
🚀 Startup-specific support
  • KEEP1 deadline tracking and filing
  • R&D-ready payroll reporting
  • Full employer cost modelling
  • Remote-hire payroll guidance
💬 Clear communication
  • A dedicated point of contact
  • Plain-English explanations
  • A clear monthly process
  • Scope and fees agreed before work begins

Payroll records ready for funding due diligence

A funding round can turn ordinary payroll questions into urgent document requests. Clean records make the process easier.

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What clean payroll records look like
Payroll registers that reconcile to accounts and bank payments. Clear records for grants, exercises and annual share-scheme returns. Consistent treatment of salaries, bonuses, benefits and employer costs. A payroll calendar showing Revenue and annual reporting deadlines.
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Why it matters in a round
Investors and their legal advisers review payroll records as part of employment, tax and regulatory due diligence. Gaps, corrections or unexplained treatments slow the process — organised records and a clear payroll calendar speed it up.

Startup payroll pricing

Transparent fees so the budget is clear before work starts. All fees exclude VAT at 23%.

Core payroll

PAYE, USC, PRSI, Revenue submissions, payslips, payroll journals, starters, leavers and corrections. Weekly, fortnightly or monthly pay frequencies.

€30+VAT
per employee per month
Employer PAYE registration — €150 + VAT where required  ·  KEEP administration and KEEP1 reporting — quoted after reviewing the scheme  ·  R&D-aligned payroll and reporting — quoted after review  ·  International hire or EOR guidance — quoted separately  ·  View all current Forti pricing →

Get an exact startup payroll quote

One short review. No commitment and no hard sell — just a clear scope and fee for the stage you are at.

Get an exact quote →

Why startup founders choose Forti for payroll

One coordinated team
Payroll connects with bookkeeping, Corporation Tax and annual accounts. You are not left relaying figures between separate providers who do not know the full picture.
Startup-specific awareness
KEEP, R&D records, rapid hiring and remote workers are considered early. Advice reflects the stage you are actually at — not a generic SME payroll process.
Clear records
Payroll data is organised for compliance, management reporting and due diligence from the start. Issues are easier to identify and resolve before they become urgent.
Straight answers
We explain what is required, what is optional and what can wait. Fees and responsibilities are agreed before the work starts — no surprise additions later.

Related Forti services and guides

Payroll and HR services
Forti's wider payroll service including pay frequencies, PAYE, PRSI, USC, benefits and Revenue submissions.
View payroll and HR services →
Tax registration
Register the company for employer PAYE correctly before the first salary or employee payment is made.
View tax registration →
Limited company accounting
Connect payroll with bookkeeping, VAT, annual accounts, Corporation Tax and management reporting.
View company accounting →
Irish startup accountant
The wider accounting service for early-stage companies from formation through to first-year compliance.
View startup accounting →
Startup accounting guide
The wider compliance sequence for a new Irish company director in 2026.
Read the startup guide →
Irish payroll guide
The complete PAYE, PRSI, MyFutureFund and payroll compliance picture for Irish employers.
Read the payroll guide →

Common questions from startup founders

What does outsourced startup payroll include?
It includes the regular calculation of pay, PAYE, USC and PRSI, payslips, Revenue submissions and payroll reports. Forti can also support startup-specific areas such as KEEP1 reporting, R&D-ready payroll records and remote-hire planning, depending on the agreed scope.
Does every startup need payroll from day one?
No. Payroll becomes necessary when the company pays an employee or pays a director a salary. Employer PAYE registration must be completed before that first payment — not after it.
What is KEEP and how does it affect payroll?
KEEP is a tax-efficient share-option scheme for qualifying companies and employees. Where all conditions are met, no Income Tax, USC or PRSI arises when the option is exercised, while Capital Gains Tax may arise when the shares are sold. The company must also meet its annual KEEP1 reporting obligation by 31 March.
When is Form KEEP1 due?
Form KEEP1 is due by 31 March following the year in which reportable KEEP events occurred. The filing calendar should be set up as soon as the first options are granted.
How are unapproved share options taxed now?
For gains realised from 1 January 2024, the employer generally operates Income Tax, USC and PRSI through payroll at the point of exercise. The company also has annual RSS1 reporting. The RTSO1 process generally relates to gains realised before 2024.
How does the R&D tax credit connect to payroll?
Employee pay can form part of qualifying R&D expenditure where the work and records meet the statutory conditions. Payroll reports should reconcile to the accounts and be supported by role, project and time records to support a Revenue review.
Can KEEP and the R&D credit apply to the same employee?
Yes. They address different matters — KEEP relates to qualifying option gains and the R&D credit relates to qualifying company expenditure. Each has its own conditions, and both can apply to the same employee.
What if my next employee works outside Ireland?
Do not assume Irish payroll is sufficient. The employee's working location may create local payroll, tax, social security or employment obligations in that country. Local registration or an Employer of Record may be needed — review the position before issuing the offer.
What does MyFutureFund mean for a startup employer?
Qualifying employees may be automatically enrolled from 1 January 2026, creating an employer contribution alongside the employee deduction. For 2026 to 2028, the employer rate is 1.5% of gross pay for eligible employees — this should be in the hiring budget before the offer is made.
How much does startup payroll cost with Forti?
Core payroll is €30 + VAT per employee per month. Employer PAYE registration is €150 + VAT where required. KEEP, R&D and international payroll work is quoted after review.
How quickly can payroll be set up?
A straightforward payroll can often be onboarded within a few working days once Employer PAYE registration, employee details, Revenue Payroll Notifications and opening balances are available. KEEP or share-option work may take longer.
Can Forti coordinate with our legal advisers?
Yes. Forti handles the payroll, tax reporting and accounting records while coordinating with legal advisers on option-plan documents, employment contracts and company-law approvals.

Build payroll that scales
with your startup.

You may be preparing your first hire, granting your first share options or strengthening the records behind an R&D claim. The starting point is the same: understand what applies before the first payment or deadline arrives.

Get a free startup payroll review →
From €30 + VAT per employee/month KEEP and R&D aware Response within one business day

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