---
title: "How do I purge historic HMRC transmission (FBI) data?"
slug: "how-do-i-purge-historic-hmrc-transmission-fbi-data"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:23:01Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:23:01Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/how-do-i-purge-historic-hmrc-transmission-fbi-data"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I purge historic HMRC transmission (FBI) data?

Once your payroll is finalised, you can pay employees using your preferred payment method and report the details to **HMRC** in a **FPS** submission. Within **Cintra iQ**, you can purge historic **FPS** communication documents with **HMRC**, such as **P60s** and/or **P9s**, that contain personal information.

Within **Purge Data History Setup** form you can perform the following:

- Purge all **PAYE Schemes**.
- Purge a specific **PAYE Scheme**.

> [!WARNING]
> **Important:** You should only purge those communications that are older than six years prior to the start of the current year.

## To purge data

1. Navigate to the **HMRC Form Processing** window. Go to **Cintra iQ**: Tool bar > FBI icon.
2. Click the **FBI Mailbox** button. The File By Internet window appears.
3. Navigate to Menu bar > Tools > Purge Historic Data. The **Purge History Setup** form appears.
4. Purge:
  - **All:** Data for **PAYE Schemes** that are older than six years prior to the start of the current year, by leaving the **PAYE Scheme** fields blank.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** The blank fields are set as the default.

Or
  - **Individual:** Data for **PAYE Scheme** that are older than six years prior to the start of the current year, by entering the desired details in the **PAYE Scheme** fields.
5. Click the **Start Purge** button. Once the purge is completed, a confirmation appears stating: **About to permanently delete all sent and received HMRC documents prior to [date]. This cannot be done. Do you want to proceed?**
6. Click the **Yes** button. A **Purge Result** message appears stating: **Deleted [value] files and [value] folders with [value] errors.**
7. Click the **OK** button. The files and folders are deleted from the **FBI** folder.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Once the purge is complete, an audit Purge log is created within the system which details who has purged the documents and how many files were deleted. The Purge file can be found in your FBIInternetReturns Logs folder.