Corrections

The Behaviour Specification page describes how SPCM is intended to behave when receiving updates to previously reported data.

However, it is not necessary to understand how SPCM behaves in all situations to correct previously-reported data. SPCM is designed so that systems can use the straightforward approach of resending an updated version of a previous return.

Correction requirements

The following requirements must be met in a correction return:

How to correct data

Aside from this, information can be generally amended in a correction, including employer and employee names, dates of birth, addresses and identifiers. Employees may be added or removed compared to the original return. The effect of removing an employee is to fill their pay records with zeroes/null for the periods and purposes covered by the report.

There is no mechanism in SPCM for deleting employers, employees or pension schemes. It is sufficient in all situations simply to discontinue reporting a record which is no longer active.

Example

The following example shows an ETI return for a single month, and a correction of the same return:

Original return:

{
  "$schema": "https://spcm.gov.gg/schemas/0.3/message.schema.json",
  "spcmMessageVersion": "0.3",
  "effective": "2023-10-05T16:33:05Z",
  "senderEmail": "joseph@acme.gg",
  "senderName": "Joseph Administrator",
  "softwareAgent": "SPCMTasks",
  "type": "Revenue_EmployerReturn",
  "purposes": [
    "ETI"
  ],
  "test": false,
  "coverage": [
    {
      "frequency": "Monthly",
      "year": 2023,
      "period": 9
    }
  ],
  "employers": [
    {
      "id": "SPCM-12345-IncomeTax",
      "taxRef": "8Y123456",
      "name": "Acme Widgets",
      "employees": [
        {
          "id": "14",
          "firstName": "Joe",
          "lastName": "Bloggs",
          "dateOfBirth": "1980-01-01",
          "employmentEndDate": "2023-09-30",
          "payrollNumber": "555",
          "deliveryPointId": 1349,
          "address": "The Lodge\nLodge Street\nGY1 2UA",
          "taxRef": "0O139481",
          "purposes": [
            "ETI"
          ],
          "pay": [
            {
              "frequency": "Monthly",
              "year": 2023,
              "period": 9,
              "taxEarnings": 4444.44,
              "taxSuperannuation": 444.44,
              "taxCoding": 234,
              "taxDirection": 2,
              "taxDirectionDeduction": 22.22,
              "taxDeduction": 444.44,
              "taxRefund": 4.44
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Corrected return:

{
  "$schema": "https://spcm.gov.gg/schemas/0.3/message.schema.json",
  "spcmMessageVersion": "0.3",
  "effective": "2023-11-04T16:46:44Z",
  "senderEmail": "joseph@acme.gg",
  "senderName": "Joseph Administrator",
  "softwareAgent": "SPCMTasks",
  "type": "Revenue_EmployerReturn",
  "purposes": [
    "ETI"
  ],
  "test": false,
  "coverage": [
    {
      "frequency": "Monthly",
      "year": 2023,
      "period": 9
    }
  ],
  "employers": [
    {
      "id": "SPCM-12345-IncomeTax",
      "taxRef": "8Y123456",
      "name": "Acme Widgets",
      "employees": [
        {
          "id": "14",
          "firstName": "Joe",
          "lastName": "Bloggs",
          "dateOfBirth": "1980-01-01",
          "employmentEndDate": "2023-09-30",
          "payrollNumber": "555",
          "deliveryPointId": 1349,
          "address": "The Lodge\nLodge Street\nGY1 2UA",
          "taxRef": "0O139481",
          "purposes": [
            "ETI"
          ],
          "pay": [
            {
              "frequency": "Monthly",
              "year": 2023,
              "period": 9,
              "taxEarnings": 4644.44,
              "taxSuperannuation": 464.44,
              "taxCoding": 234,
              "taxDirection": 2,
              "taxDirectionDeduction": 22.22,
              "taxDeduction": 444.44,
              "taxRefund": 4.44
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "id": "19",
          "firstName": "Fred",
          "lastName": "Bloggs",
          "dateOfBirth": "1990-01-01",
          "employmentEndDate": null,
          "payrollNumber": "552",
          "deliveryPointId": 31201,
          "address": "The Flat\nHill Street\nGY4 9AP",
          "taxRef": "5B138494",
          "purposes": [
            "ETI"
          ],
          "pay": [
            {
              "frequency": "Monthly",
              "year": 2023,
              "period": 9,
              "taxEarnings": 1231.44,
              "taxSuperannuation": 22.44,
              "taxCoding": 55,
              "taxDirection": null,
              "taxDirectionDeduction": 0,
              "taxDeduction": 144.44,
              "taxRefund": 0
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}