Latest blogs for Services

Could there be Auto-Enrolment changes?   The UK Government has recognised that auto-enrolment contributions need to increase in order to cover projected short-falls in personal pension pots. In September 2023, a bill to reduce the age for auto-enrolment and abolish the lower-level qualification threshold received Royal Assent. It is projected that the average earner’s pension…

UK company size thresholds are set to increase, but what does this change for you?   In his recent economic speech on 18th March 2024, Rishi Sunak unveiled significant changes aimed at simplifying reporting requirements for businesses. Among these measures, he announced an increase in the thresholds used to determine company size.   Understanding Company…

A further cut in employee National Insurance (NI).   Following rapidly on the heels of the 2% cut in employee National Insurance Contributions, the chancellor announced a second 2% cut to come into effect at the start of the new tax year. This means that a monthly paid employee earning £30,000 per year will see…

Changes to Advisory Fuel Rates – With effect from 1 March 2024, although previous rates can still be used for up to one month after the 1 March. However, the volatility of the price of fuel on the world markets can mean that these rates are already outdated. It is advised to keep monitoring the…

For the 24-25 tax year there will be 5 different student loan deduction rates. However, Plan 5 does not become due for payment until the 2026-27 tax year so can be discounted for now. The new rates show no change for Plan 2 and 3, but the thresholds for Plan 1 and 4 have been…

Yet again we have a tinkering of the rules regarding holiday pay in the seemingly forlorn hope for simplification. Basic holiday entitlement hasn’t changed. Employees are still entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday per annum and the changes apply to those workers who have no set hours or work irregular hours.   One little known aspect…

The National Minimum Wage increase from April 2024 will be welcomed by many employees. The rise will take place from 1 April for the next pay reference period post increase.   Perhaps the biggest change of all is the abolition of the 21–22-year-old band. Employees reaching the age of 21 will now enjoy a pay…

In 2016 the Government launched a trial scheme to payroll benefits. The purpose of this was to make declaring and paying tax on benefits easier in comparison to submitting annual P11D forms and also to provide HMRC with real time information.   Due to the regulations HMRC put in place at the time, it’s fairly…

One of the areas we find that generates more enquiries than any other is the murky world of Maternity Pay and all associated areas such as paternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Paternity Leave is the easiest area to get to grips with: Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) lasts for 2 weeks. The employee can take…

Here’s our quick overview of Freeports, what they are and what benefits they offer.   On 20 November 2023 the Government announced that the window to claim Freeport tax relief in England will be extended to September 2031. This is however conditional on the Freeport developing a satisfactory plan for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.…