When it comes to payroll, many UK business owners believe keeping it in-house is the cheapest option. But once you factor in time, training, and compliance risks, the hidden costs of payroll can far outweigh the savings. The Time Drain Payroll isn’t just pressing a button each month. It’s: Collecting and checking timesheets Calculating holiday … Read more
One of the drawbacks of being self-employed is the lack of employee benefits, like sick pay and holiday pay. However, some self-employed people are entitled to self-employed holiday pay if they’re classed as workers or employees, which may be the case if they have a contract to do work personally, or work through an agency … Read more
In its latest round of investigations, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have named 518 employers who have failed to pay the National Living or National Minimum Wage correctly to their staff. A total of £7.4 million will be paid by these employers to almost 60,000 workers. In addition, the employers face financial penalties of up … Read more
The government recently announced a delay in making the payrolling of most benefits in kind (BiKs) and expenses mandatory, so that this will now take effect from 6 April 2027 as opposed to 6 April 2026 as previously announced. This gives businesses more time to get familiar with the procedures and requirements that will come … Read more
In England and Wales, there are typically eight bank holidays each year: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, two May bank holidays, the August bank holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Occasionally, an extra bank holiday is granted for special events, such as Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee or the coronation of King Charles … Read more
The Department for Education have released details of additional flexibility coming to apprenticeships. When adult learners over the age of 19 start their apprenticeship course, businesses will now be able to decide whether they need to complete a level 2 English and Maths qualification (equivalent to a GCSE) in order to pass the course. The … Read more
With significant changes on the horizon for how employers handle Benefits in Kind (BiKs), now is the perfect time to prepare for the upcoming shift. From 6 April 2026, the UK government will mandate the payrolling of most employee benefits in kind. However, employers have the option to voluntarily opt in early. By acting early, … Read more
The HMRC app is free to download and can be set up in minutes. Below are steps to get started along with information on the app’s most popular features, including: Claiming a tax refund Support for students and seasonal workers starting employment Assistance for families in claiming and managing Child Benefit Preparation for retirement Employers … Read more
The government has published the Employment Rights Bill, which is intended help deliver economic security and growth to businesses, workers and communities across the UK. The bill will bring forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement … Read more
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has recently reminded people to check and make sure they are not missing out on valuable State Pension entitlements due to gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record. The issue mainly affects parents, particularly women, who claimed Child Benefit before 2000. During that time, Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was designed … Read more