Payroll software · Ireland
Thesaurus Payroll Manager
Irish desktop payroll software for employers and payroll bureaus, from €239 per tax year
Market position
Thesaurus Payroll Manager is Windows desktop payroll software for Irish employers and payroll bureaus, sold by Thesaurus Software Ltd, trading as Bright Software Group, in Duleek, Co. Meath. Thesaurus Software started in the early 1990s, and the same group now also sells BrightPay. It is payroll-only, with an optional paid Thesaurus Connect add-on for cloud backup and a web self-service dashboard for employees or clients.
Ireland-specific note
Thesaurus says Payroll Manager is fully PAYE Modernisation compliant and ROS-enabled for real-time reporting, can set up employees from a ROS RPN file, handles PRSI class selection, USC and PAYE exclusion orders, produces SEPA payment files and is compliant with MyFuture Fund auto-enrolment.
Pros
- + Published annual prices from €239 per tax year (excl. VAT)
- + ROS real-time reporting and RPN import, according to Thesaurus
- + MyFuture Fund auto-enrolment support
- + 60-day free trial and free telephone support
- + Bureau licences for payroll bureaus and accountants
Cons
- − Windows desktop software; cloud features need the paid Connect add-on
- − Connect is charged per active employee per month on top of the licence
- − Licence is per tax year, so it must be renewed each year
- − Payroll only, not accounting or job management
Typical Ireland pricing
Per tax year, excl. VAT, as listed on its Payroll Manager page on 10 October 2026 (the page sells 2026 and 2027 licences and does not say which year these prices are for): €239 (1 employer, up to 10 employees), €359 (up to 25), €479 (unlimited); bureau €509 (up to 10 employers), €729 (up to 25), €979 (unlimited); Thesaurus Connect extra per active employee per month; 60-day free trial
Why this matters for Ireland trades
Since 1 September 2026 it is illegal for anyone who is not a Registered Gas Installer to carry out domestic or non-domestic gas works (S.I. No. 106/2026), and the CRU says Safe Electric registration for electrical contractors is the law; Safe Energy Ireland runs both schemes for the CRU. Principal contractors deduct RCT at 0%, 20% or 35% from subcontractors’ payments and file through ROS. The Irish payroll tools listed here say they send payroll submissions to Revenue and handle My Future Fund auto-enrolment. The statutory Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) is not yet mandatory: the CIF says applications open during 2027, and its Voluntary Construction Register runs until then.
Irish trades vendor selection is shaped by statutory registration (RGI for gas, Safe Electric for electrical contractors), Revenue payroll reporting under PAYE Modernisation, the My Future Fund auto-enrolment pension scheme that started on 1 January 2026, Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) on payments to construction subcontractors, and SEAI’s Registered Contractor List for grant-funded home energy upgrades.
Frequently asked
Is Thesaurus Payroll Manager a good fit for Ireland trades?
Thesaurus Payroll Manager is Windows desktop payroll software for Irish employers and payroll bureaus, sold by Thesaurus Software Ltd, trading as Bright Software Group, in Duleek, Co. Meath. Thesaurus Software started in the early 1990s, and the same group now also sells BrightPay. It is payroll-only, with an optional paid Thesaurus Connect add-on for cloud backup and a web self-service dashboard for employees or clients. Thesaurus says Payroll Manager is fully PAYE Modernisation compliant and ROS-enabled for real-time reporting, can set up employees from a ROS RPN file, handles PRSI class selection, USC and PAYE exclusion orders, produces SEPA payment files and is compliant with MyFuture Fund auto-enrolment.
What does Thesaurus Payroll Manager cost in Ireland?
Per tax year, excl. VAT, as listed on its Payroll Manager page on 10 October 2026 (the page sells 2026 and 2027 licences and does not say which year these prices are for): €239 (1 employer, up to 10 employees), €359 (up to 25), €479 (unlimited); bureau €509 (up to 10 employers), €729 (up to 25), €979 (unlimited); Thesaurus Connect extra per active employee per month; 60-day free trial. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Ireland pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Does Thesaurus Payroll Manager publish its prices?
Yes. Thesaurus Payroll Manager is Tier S in our Ireland directory, which means our check found its prices published on its own website (see the typical pricing above). The tier is not a quality ranking, so compare it against the alternatives for your trade and region.