News and Information
The world of Payroll can be confusing at times, particularly as legislative changes and updates happen so frequently.
What to Look for in a UK Payroll Bureau
Choosing a payroll bureau? Here’s what to look for to ensure compliance, accuracy, and support.
How to Switch Payroll Providers Before April
Thinking of switching payroll providers before the new tax year? Here's how to do it smoothly—with no stress or disruption.
The salary sacrifice pension announcement in the Autumn Budget 2025
The Autumn Budget 2025 introduced a £2,000 cap on salary sacrifice pension contributions—set for April 2029. Full details are yet to be confirmed, but it could mean big changes for payroll and pensions.
Managing Seasonal Staff and Payroll Over the Festive Period: Best Practice for Employers
For many employers, the run up to Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. Retailers take on temporary staff, hospitality venues extend their opening hours, and many businesses see shifts, overtime and bonuses increase.
Payrolling vs P11Ds: What Employers Need to Know
The deadline for submitting P11Ds about money owed for the tax year ending 5 th April 2025 to
HMRC was the 6 th July and Class 1A National Insurance paid by 22 nd July. If employer have still
done either of these they need to submit and pay as soon as possible to avoid further penalties.
New Student Loan Plan 5 Explained: What It Means for Payroll from April 2026
There is a new student repayment plan, Plan 5, for Student Finance England whereas Student Finance Wales, Student Awards Agency Scotland and Student Finance Northern Ireland remain the same.
SSP changes
Proposed SSP changes are making the news at the moment. The current position is that employees qualify for SSP based upon earnings or expected earnings.
Starting Payroll with Payroll Options: What to Expect
Starting payroll with a new provider can feel daunting—but it doesn’t have to be. At Payroll Options, we’ve built our service around one core idea: make payroll simple.
Benefits in Kind through Payroll
Many companies have started reporting benefits in kind through payroll this April ahead of the proposed withdrawal of the P11D from April 2026.
5 Payroll Tasks You Shouldn’t Be Losing Sleep Over (But Probably Are)
Let’s face it — running payroll isn't exactly the highlight of the month. Unless you're really into tax codes and statutory sick pay, it probably falls somewhere between “necessary evil” and “what fresh chaos is this?”
Self Assessment Tax Returns and Student Loans
Although not directly related to payroll HMRC have recently highlighted an issue where an employee has a student loan, benefits in kind processed via payroll and submits a tax return.
Payroll Audits: Why March is the Best Time for a Compliance Check
March is a crucial month for businesses to conduct a payroll auditbefore the new tax year begins. A payroll audit ensures accuracy, compliance, and efficiency—preventing costly errors before they roll over into the next financial year. Here’s why March is the perfect time for a payroll compliance check and what businesses should focus on.
National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage is the minimum pay rate a worker is entitled to. The rate is set per hour and depends on the worker's age and whether they are an apprentice. All employers have to pay the correct minimum wage, it does not matter whether they have a single employee or a large corporation.
How to Prepare for the End of the Tax Year: Payroll Checklist
As the end of the tax year approaches, businesses across the UK must ensure that their payroll processes are in order. Proper preparation is essential to avoid costly mistakes, ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, and provide employees with accurate financial records.
Making Payroll Easy This Christmas: A Gift for Your Business
The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and planning for the year ahead. But as business owners know, it’s also one of the busiest times of the year—especially when it comes to managing payroll.
Employment Allowance April 2025
More employers have taken an interest in Employment Allowance now it has once again been in the press.
HMRC Launches 'Don’t Get Caught Out' Campaign to Help Contractors Avoid Risky Tax Schemes
HMRC have launched a “Don’t get caught out” campaign aimed at protecting workers from tax avoidance schemes.
Approximation for Employer’s National Insurance from April 2025
It was announced in the budget today that from April the employer’s National Insurance contributions will be increased from 13.8% to 15%. It was also announced that the secondary threshold is reducing from £9100 per year to £5000.
Payroll and Pensions: Ensuring Compliance with Auto-Enrolment Rules
The UK’s auto-enrolment pension scheme, introduced in 2012, has transformed the landscape of workplace pensions by making it compulsory for employers to automatically enroll eligible employees into a workplace pension. This initiative ensures that more people are saving for retirement, but it also places significant compliance responsibilities on businesses.
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