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For teams paying people in Europe

European payroll, checked country by country

Local payroll depends on local registration, tax, social security, employment law and statutory benefits. RPS helps you choose the right route before payroll starts.

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Advisory

Hiring across Europe usually means a new entity, new rules and a new provider in each country.It does not have to. We bring the process into one service relationship while the checks stay local, whether you are employing through an Employer of Record, coordinating local payroll, or supporting posted workers.

One payroll relationship, local checks

Expand without pretending Europe works one way

European payroll is not a single switch. Each country has its own payroll registration rules, employment protections, social security treatment, benefits, reporting deadlines and evidence requirements.

RPS brings the process into one service relationship, but the checks stay local. We confirm whether you need local payroll under your own entity, an EOR route, posted-worker treatment, or another structure. For temporary postings, a PD A1 may keep a worker in their home-country social security system for up to 24 months where conditions are met. It must be requested in advance and is not a shortcut around host-country employment obligations.

  • Local checks, country by country - Local employment law, tax, social security and statutory benefits checked in each jurisdiction.
  • An EOR route where it fits - Hire in a country without setting up your own entity, where conditions are met.
  • Multi-currency, multilingual - People paid in local currency, with local-language support.
  • One consolidated view - Reporting consolidated so your UK team can see what has been paid, with one relationship.
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How it works in practice

Confirm who employs the worker

We confirm the employing entity and which entity pays them, country by country. You direct the work.

Check the local position

Payroll registration, tax, social security and statutory benefits checked before setup.

One reporting view

Reporting consolidated so your UK team can see what has been paid, local detail kept intact.

European and global payroll

Three ways to pay people across Europe

Hire through an EOR route, coordinate local payroll, or support posted workers. One partner, one process, with the checks kept local.

International EOR

Use an employing entity where you need to hire in a country without setting up your own. The EOR handles local employment payroll and statutory administration, while you direct the daily work.

Local payroll coordination

Use this where you already have local entities. RPS helps coordinate payroll inputs, deadlines, outputs and reporting across markets.

Posted-worker support

Use this where an employee is temporarily sent to another country. We help identify PD A1 and social security questions, alongside host-country employment condition checks.
Coverage

Country-by-country payroll coverage

RPS supports European payroll through local checks, partner coordination and employment model selection. Coverage is confirmed against the worker location, employing entity, start date and role before any offer is made.

Rooftops and spires of central Prague

Prague

Payroll support, checked locally

Waterfront and old town buildings in Stockholm

Stockholm

Payroll support, checked locally

Canal houses along a waterway in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Payroll support, checked locally

Paris skyline with the Eiffel Tower in the distance

Paris

Payroll support, checked locally

Office towers in the Frankfurt financial district

Frankfurt

Payroll support, checked locally

Modern and historic buildings across the Warsaw skyline

Warsaw

Payroll support, checked locally

European coverage

Where we can pay and employ your people

An at-a-glance view of our European markets. Filter by what you need, then talk to us about the detail for your specific engagement.

Country EOR status Typical setup time Payroll cycle Local currency Contractor model
🇬🇧United Kingdom Available 1 to 2 weeks Weekly / Monthly GBP £ Contractor review
🇩🇪Germany Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly EUR € Freelance (Freiberufler)
🇫🇷France Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly EUR € Auto-entrepreneur
🇳🇱Netherlands Available 1 to 3 weeks Monthly EUR € ZZP (self-employed)
🇪🇸Spain Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly EUR € Autónomo
🇮🇹Italy Available 3 to 5 weeks Monthly EUR € Partita IVA
🇵🇱Poland Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly PLN zł B2B contract
🇮🇪Ireland Available 1 to 3 weeks Monthly EUR € Sole trader
🇵🇹Portugal Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly EUR € Recibos verdes
🇧🇪Belgium Available 3 to 5 weeks Monthly EUR € Independent (zelfstandige)
🇸🇪Sweden Limited 3 to 5 weeks Monthly SEK kr Enskild firma
🇩🇰Denmark Limited 3 to 5 weeks Monthly DKK kr Enkeltmandsvirksomhed
🇦🇹Austria Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly EUR € Neue Selbstständige
🇷🇴Romania Available 2 to 4 weeks Monthly RON lei PFA (authorised person)
🇨🇿Czech Republic Limited 3 to 5 weeks Monthly CZK Kč OSVČ (self-employed)
🇨🇭Switzerland Coming soon On request Monthly CHF Fr. Einzelfirma

This matrix is indicative and confirmed per engagement. EOR status, setup times, payroll cycles, currencies and contractor models vary with local rules and your specific requirements. We verify the exact position for each country before you commit.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about European payroll with RPS Contracts.

We support European payroll on a country-by-country basis. Before confirming a route, we check the work location, employing entity, payroll registration requirements, local employment rules, tax, social security and statutory benefits.

Sometimes. If you have a local entity, local payroll may be the right route. If you do not, an EOR may be appropriate in some countries. The answer depends on local law, role, duration, tax position and whether the arrangement creates wider corporate or permanent establishment questions.

A PD A1 is a social security certificate used for certain temporary postings within Europe. Where conditions are met, it can confirm that the worker remains covered by the home-country social security system for a temporary posting, usually up to 24 months. It does not remove host-country employment obligations.

No single model should be assumed. Employees, contractors, posted workers and EOR hires all need separate status and country checks. Misclassification can create tax, employment-rights and social security exposure.

Get Started

Check the country before the contract

Tell us where the worker lives, where they will work and who will employ them. We will map the payroll route before you commit to the hire.

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