Category: Christmas

Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early?

For the third year running, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day don’t fall on weekends, however, Boxing Day is a Saturday and so the following Monday becomes a substitute day. And for Scotland the extended New Year celebrations which normally include the 2nd January which for 2027 is also a Saturday creating a substitute Bank … Continue reading Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early? →

Employers required to keep holiday records

Holiday pay clampdown is on its way with new employer recording obligations and Holiday Pay compliance being introduced alongside the Fair Work Agency enforcement duties. Holiday entitlement and pay rights All employees and workers across the United Kingdom have rights to holiday entitlements and pay. Statistical analysis has shown that in excess of 1.8 million … Continue reading Employers required to keep holiday records →

Extra Christmas working hours and minimum pay

As the festive season approaches, many businesses rely on staff working longer hours, picking up extra shifts or staying late to meet demand. But are your clients confident they’re paying them correctly? Join HMRC’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) team, for a live webinar designed to help employers and their payroll advisers to understand what counts … Continue reading Extra Christmas working hours and minimum pay →

Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early?

For the third year running, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day don’t fall on weekends and there are no substitute days. However, Scotland has a substitute day for St Andrews. England and Wales So when are the Christmas and New Year Bank holidays? For England Wales and Northern Ireland matches: Scotland In Scotland there are … Continue reading Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early? →

Universal Credit payments – Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025

Universal Credit payments due on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day will be paid on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.  Additional support for struggling families also available from the government’s extended Household Support Fund.  Part of the Government’s commitment to put more money into people’s pockets through the Plan for Change. Some Universal Credit … Continue reading Universal Credit payments – Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 →

December 2024 PAYE payment deadline

Electronic payment deadline falls on a weekend In December 2024 the electronic payment deadline for PAYE to HMRC falls on Sunday 22nd December 2024. For those using BACS for payments, the 21st and 22nd December are non-banking days where payments will not be paid. Employers need to make sure their payment for the tax Month … Continue reading December 2024 PAYE payment deadline →

Winter workers – employer pension duties

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is reminding employers that if they employ short-term staff over the winter period who are not on regular hours or incomes and are being paid through a payroll system, they must ensure they are complying with their legal automatic enrolment (AE) pension duties. Seasonal or temporary staff must be assessed individually every … Continue reading Winter workers – employer pension duties →

GPA – UK payroll – I’m dreaming of an alright Christmas

PAYadvice author Simon Parsons is a contributor to the GPA magazine 04:05 Global Payroll, in this months edition he covers subjects relating to the Christmas holiday season. So from why the UK New years is not the same as the tax year. And a number of seasonal topics for this Christmas and other holiday season festivities … Continue reading GPA – UK payroll – I’m dreaming of an alright Christmas →

Issue 124 of Agent Update – October 2024

Dear PAYadvice.UK, Agent Update: issue 124 is available now. Get the latest guidance and information including:•helping us protect workers from getting caught out by tax avoidance•updates to the Trust Registration Service (TRS) guidance•changes to the Agent Dedicated Line•less than 6 months left to fill in National Insurance gaps to 2006•evidence required to claim PAYE (P87) employment … Continue reading Issue 124 of Agent Update – October 2024 →

Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early?

For the second year running, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day don’t fall on weekends and there are no substitute days. So when are the Christmas and New Year Bank holidays? For England Wales and Northern Ireland matches: In Scotland there are variations and an alternate day applies for St Andrew’s day which would normally … Continue reading Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early? →

October 2024 Employer Bulletin

HMRC have issued the October 2024 edition of the Employer Bulletin which brings the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals and agents. Introduction  In this month’s edition of the Employer Bulletin there are important updates and information on:  PAYE  introduction of a new statutory allowance from April 2025 — Statutory Neonatal Care Pay … Continue reading October 2024 Employer Bulletin →

Had a Christmas job? Check your pay!

Festive workers who may be missing out on the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage are being urged to check their pay. Seasonal staff and students on short-term contracts over the Christmas period, including those working in shops, hotels, Christmas markets, garden centres, restaurants and warehouses, are legally entitled to the same minimum rates … Continue reading Had a Christmas job? Check your pay! →

Many Happy (Tax) Returns

There were 4,757 tax payers who filed their Self Assessment return on Christmas Day, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A day traditionally dominated by eating, drinking, and exchanging gifts saw a perhaps surprising number of customers also find time to go online and complete the filing their tax return for the 2022 to … Continue reading Many Happy (Tax) Returns →

HMRC Christmas and New Year opening times

HMRC have issued their Christmas opening hours. Opening times over Christmas and New Year Wednesday 24 December: 8am to 4pm Thursday 25 December to Sunday 28 December: closed Monday 29 December and Tuesday 30 December: 8am to 6pm Wednesday 31 December: 8am to 4pm Thursday 1 January: closed Friday 2 January: 8am to 6pm Phone … Continue reading HMRC Christmas and New Year opening times →

Give the greatest gift and donate blood this Christmas

Registered blood donors urged to donate and fill appointment slots at one of 25 centres nationwide Help the NHS deal with the busy winter and keep blood stocks strong New donors welcome in the new year to join the lifesaving teams Blood donors are being urged to book and keep appointments this Christmas. Winter is … Continue reading Give the greatest gift and donate blood this Christmas →

Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early?

At last - Christmas Day and New Year’s Day don’t fall on weekends this year and there are no substitute days. So when are the Christmas and New Year Bank holidays? They’re all back to normal! Do Bank holidays have to be paid? Bank or public holidays do not have to be given as paid … Continue reading Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early? →

October 2022 HMRC Employer Bulletin

HMRC have published their October 2022 edition of the employers bulletin. It covers a multitude of topics: PAYE Reduction in the rate of National Insurance contributions and reversal of the Health and Social Care Levy — employer actions Making your PAYE Settlement Agreement payment Guidelines for Compliance — help with PAYE Settlement Agreement calculations Electronic … Continue reading October 2022 HMRC Employer Bulletin →

Christmas 2022 and New Year 2023 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early?

As Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on weekends, neither is a bank holiday and therefore substitute days are used instead. So Tuesday 27th December 2022 is the official bank holiday substitute for Christmas Day and Monday 2nd January 2023 the official substitute as New Years is a Sunday. Do Bank holidays have to … Continue reading Christmas 2022 and New Year 2023 – when are the Bank Holidays and what about paying early? →

Protect yourself from online sales scams

The government is urging the public to protect themselves from online sales scams through five actionable steps. The public must be vigilant in protecting themselves from the threat of online scammers the Government has urged after a year which saw a record number of cyber attacks and online scams. Reports to Action Fraud, the national … Continue reading Protect yourself from online sales scams →

Warning highlighting online shopping product safety risks!

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has issued an Important Product Safety Message in the run up to Christmas, asking the public to check who they are buying from. Many consumers are unaware that online platforms are not always the seller of the products on their websites but often act as an intermediary … Continue reading Warning highlighting online shopping product safety risks! →

DBS and seasonal job scams

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) continues a campaign to raise awareness of job scams and employment fraud among job seekers, alongside JobsAware – a non-profit organisation that informs people of how to avoid and report job scams and other unfair working practices. With seasonal job scams predicted to increase in the lead up to … Continue reading DBS and seasonal job scams →

Paying early for Christmas?

Reporting PAYE information in real time when payments are made early at Christmas As part of the employer bulletin, HMRC are reminding employers of the permanent easement on reporting PAYE-information in real time which has been in place since 2019. Some employers pay employees early for the Christmas period. This can be for a number … Continue reading Paying early for Christmas? →

Support for vulnerable households over winter

Vulnerable households will be able to access a new £500m support fund to help them with essentials over the coming months as the country continues its recovery from the pandemic. £500m support available to help those most in needMoney available to councils in October 2021 Vulnerable households across the UK will be able to access … Continue reading Support for vulnerable households over winter →

More support to help people to become HGV drivers

Up to 4,000 will be trained as HGV drivers to help tackle skills shortages and support more people to launch careers within the logistics sector.Package of measures includes using MOD examiners to help increase immediate HGV testing capacity by thousands over the next 12 weeks.Nearly 1 million letters to be sent to all drivers who … Continue reading More support to help people to become HGV drivers →

Christmas holiday, Christmas bonus and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

As part of his update from Thursday 17th December 2020, Jim Harra of HMRC has provided the following clarifications. Can I use CJRS to pay for holiday leave? If employers have furloughed employees because of the effect of coronavirus on their business, they can claim under the CJRS for periods of paid leave they take … Continue reading Christmas holiday, Christmas bonus and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme →

December 2020 HMRC Employer Bulletin

Dear @PAYadvice, Our Employer Bulletin (December 2020, Issue 87) includes a host of useful information including the extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, VAT deferral and VAT reverse charge measures for the construction industry, Virtual Christmas Parties and Brexit transition updates. There’s also a timely reminder about how to report PAYE Real Time Information … Continue reading December 2020 HMRC Employer Bulletin →

Virtual Christmas staff events – tax exemption status confirmed

HM Revenue and Customers have indicated the following, guidance will be updated shortly. Having considered the scope of section 264 ITEPA 2003 (annual parties exemption), [HMRC] are pleased to confirm that the exemption will apply to the costs associated with virtual parties in the same way that it would for traditionally held, parties. Therefore, the … Continue reading Virtual Christmas staff events – tax exemption status confirmed →