PAYE and NI

Why pay more tax and NI contributions than you need to? We can help you to minimise your liabilities, while ensuring that you comply with your obligations. Just view our PAYE and NI guides to find out more.

Why not use our payslip calculator to check your net pay?

From April 2011 both employee, employer and class 4 National Insurance rates have all increased.

2011 PAYE update

From 2011, many significant changes will be made to the operation of the PAYE system. There are also changes from 2012 that you should be considering now.

An introduction to PAYE

Whether an individual is an employee or self-employed in a particular situation is a question of fact depending on the terms under which he or she works. When you engage someone to do work for you, you have to decide whether or not to apply the PAYE rules. It is up to you to get it right or suffer the consequences.

Employing your spouse

When considering the overall tax position of your family, it is worth considering if you can justify employing your spouse in your business.

Tax-free gifts to staff

In an environment where most employee 'perks' are subject to tax it may be helpful for you as an employer to be aware of the few concessions that have been made by HM Revenue & Customs.

Late payment of PAYE

Employers need to be aware of PAYE late payment penalties. Businesses are being reminded that they may face a penalty charge if they are late in paying their PAYE deductions in full.

Late returns penalties

Forms P14, P35, P38 and P38A - These forms are due to be filed by 19 May each year. If not filed on time a fine of up to £1,200 per 50 employees. This penalty may be reduced dependent on the circumstances.

Don't pay too much national insurance

If you have income from more than one job, or if you have self employment income as well as being employed, you should take care to ensure that you do not pay more in national insurance contributions than you need to.

National insurance planning

Details of class 1, class 1A, dividends instead of salary and action to save NICs.

Getting a P11D dispensation

Completing and submitting forms P11D can be both costly and time consuming, especially for larger businesses. Did you know that the Revenue might on application grant a dispensation so that routine expense payments and benefits that would not give rise to a tax liability need not be reported on forms P11D?

Benefits in kind and expenses payments

Benefits in kind are assessed on all directors and employees whose salary and benefits combined are £8,500 or more. Remuneration by way of benefits is often attractive to employees, especially if they are paying the higher rate of income tax, because the benefit may either be tax free or subject to less tax.

Payslip basics

Most employees receive payslips and take them for granted, but what are the legal requirements?

How to survive a PAYE and NIC inspection

However confident you are that your records are complete and well maintained, a PAYE / NIC inspection might still catch you unawares. Here are some pointers to help you.

Employing workers from the A8 EU member states

Anyone who employs an individual in the UK is required to make sure that the individual is entitled to work in the UK, and is not subject to any immigration control.

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

These tax credits replaced Working Families' Tax Credit, Disabled Person's Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit and the child-related elements of Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

Employed or self employed?

The question as to whether someone is employed or self employed is not as straightforward as it might at first appear. Many people assume they are free to choose, but HM Revenue & Customs emphasises that this is not the case.

Personal service companies

The legislation known as IR35 is intended to tackle the avoidance of tax and national insurance contributions through the use of intermediaries such as service companies or partnerships.

Employment options

Many people can go for years paying too much (or, perhaps more worryingly, too little) tax. PAYE aims to collect, over the course of a tax year, approximately the right amount of tax from your earnings.

Employee share schemes

These plans provide three core elements which can be combined by companies in a number of ways depending on what best suits their business (limits are per employee).