Awareness of the forthcoming real-time information (RTI) system is growing among small firms, according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB), but many are “still ignorant and unaware”.

The results of members’ survey show that many employers understand the implications of the PAYE revamp set to be launched by HMRC in less than two months’ time, and two thirds know what is expected of them.

But the FSB believes a worrying number are still in the dark. The business support organisation’s chief executive, Phil Orford, said, “Real-time information is looming and, while our research suggests there is a growing understanding of what this means, there is a significant number of firms that are still ignorant and unaware”.