Articles and information in relation to UK Payroll for business, employers and employees.
Around 17 million private sector workers now saving into a pension will be given the option of an income in retirement, closing the gap with pensions seen in the public sector, under government plans for default pensions launched today. Private sector workers to enjoy a pension that lasts throughout retirement, something public sector workers take … Continue reading Genuine pensions for millions of private sector workers proposed
Pension Auto Enrolment Pensions Automatic Enrolment (AE) obliges all employers to enrol all eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension, provided that they ordinarily work in Great Britain and satisfy the age and earnings criteria. The AE earnings trigger determines who is eligible to be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension by their employer based on how much … Continue reading Pension Automatic Enrolment Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band for 2027 to 2028
HM Revenue and Customs is encouraging people to check their State Pension forecast using the HMRC app during Pension Awareness Week. Research shows 45 to 54-year-olds are more likely than any other age group to have never checked their State Pension, despite it being a key time for retirement planning. One in eight adults have … Continue reading 7 million in the dark about their State Pension
As part of the employers bulletin June 2026 articles, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued information on the Low Earners Pension Payment (LEPP). Contact imminent From August 2026, HMRC will be contacting around 1 million eligible individuals directly about the low earner’s pension payment, previously referred to as the low earner’s anomaly. This … Continue reading Low earner’s pension payment
As part of the HMRC June 2026 Employer Bulletin, there is an article that highlights that the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) made HMRC aware of an error in the August 2023 issue of the employer bulletin and a corrected reissued article. Tax relief on employee contributions to registered pension schemes The text below is based on a replacement for … Continue reading Pension tax relief – still getting it wrong
Pension savers will be better protected from scams under new plans announced Tuesday 9th June 2026, as the Government acts to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraudsters who rob people of their lifetime savings. New safeguard proposed to tackle pension fraud. Targeted safeguard to end misuse of Small Self-Administered Schemes with average losses rising to … Continue reading Crack down on pension scams
Over 4.2 million HMRC app downloads in 2025. More than 136 million logins, a 20% increase on 2024. Older and retired people are the biggest growth area for app engagement. Millions more people are choosing to make managing their tax easier and simpler, with use of the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) app continuing to accelerate nationwide. … Continue reading HMRC app surge on those taking control of their tax
As part of budget 2025 announcements have been progressed in relation to collective money purchase schemes. What a CMP The Pension Schemes Act 2021 introduced CMP schemes (also known as collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes) as a new type of trust based occupational pension scheme. Currently CMPschemes are only available to single or connected employers. However, the Department … Continue reading Budget 2025 – Collective money purchase schemes
Tax avoidance arrangements seeking to avoid Corporation Tax, Income Tax and National Insurance contributions by using unfunded pension arrangements. HMRC is aware of tax avoidance arrangements used by owner managed companies and their directors. These arrangements are used to reward one or more directors for the services they provide to a company, in a way … Continue reading Disguised remuneration: tax avoidance using unfunded pension arrangements
In March 2023, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) commissioned IFF Research to undertake research to understand the experiences, motivations, and attitudes of employers towards using salary sacrifice arrangements for pensions. The research also explored whether hypothetical changes to tax reliefs (such as reform of NICs relief) on pension salary sacrifice arrangements may impact employers’ motivations and attitudes … Continue reading Salary sacrifice pension attitudes
What should be one of the most simplest terms in use turns out to be one of the most complicated. Much of the confusion is a result of whose point of view! For what should have such a simple meaning, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have such a different and varying use of the term. … Continue reading When NET is not what you think!
The following was announced on Tuesday 21st January 2025: Automatic enrolment (AE) into workplace pensions has transformed workplace pension saving for millions of workers. The Government is committed to looking at long-term steps we can take to further improve pension outcomes. I have completed this year’s annual statutory review of the thresholds within Automatic Enrolment. … Continue reading Automatic Enrolment: the Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band Review 2025/2026
Torsten Bell MP has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary in HM Treasury and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Work and Pensions on 14th January 2025 replacing Emma Reynolds, who was promoted following the resignation of Tulip Siddiq. He is the Labour MP for Swansea West, and elected as an MP on 4th July 2024. He … Continue reading Torsten Bell appointed Minister for Pensions
If you're missing Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) from your National Insurance record, it could be affecting your State Pension. Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a scheme to help protect parents’ and carers’ State Pension eligibility. National Insurance credits replaced HRP in 2010. Those who qualified would have received HRP automatically if between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2010 … Continue reading Home Responsibility Protection – Don’t miss out
Individuals have less than 6 months to fill any gaps in their National Insurance records from April 2006 onwards to maximise their State Pension Thousands have topped up their National Insurance record using the government’s online service Government encourages people to act now and check their National Insurance record More than 10,000 payments worth £12.5 … Continue reading 10,000 boost State Pension with online payments
Thousands of people missing Home Responsibilities Protection on their National Insurance record could boost their State Pension HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging tens of thousands of people to check if they are eligible to boost their State Pension. Some parents who claimed Child benefit before 2000 are missing out on State Pension … Continue reading Check you’re not missing State Pension payments
The HMRC Software Developers Support Team (SDST) have issued an update on the RTI changes for April 2025. The following is a brief summary based on the information issued: Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (SNCP) As indicated on 3rd June 2024, to support SNCP there will be one new data item in the Full Payment Submission … Continue reading April 2025 RTI changes latest
HMRC have issued the August 2024 edition of the Employer Bulletin which brings the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals and agents. In this month’s edition of the Employer Bulletin there are important updates and information on: PAYE employer liabilities and payments viewer — ‘Earlier Year Update’ becomes ‘end of tax year adjustment’ … Continue reading August 2024 Employer Bulletin
Landmark pensions review part of Government’s mission to ‘boost growth and make every part of Britain better off’. Chancellor launches landmark review to boost investment, increase pension pots and tackle waste in the pensions system. New Pensions Bill confirmed in King’s Speech could boost pension pots by over £11,000, with further consolidation and broader … Continue reading Pensions Big Bang
Emma Reynolds has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary at HM Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions on 9th July 2024. In that position she acts as the Pensions Minister, the difference being the role is now represented across both the DWP and HM Treasury. She was elected as the MP for Wycombe in … Continue reading New Pension Minister – Emma Reynolds MP
Pension contributions during Statutory Maternity Leave One of the common questions in payroll and employment rights social media groups is around employer duties to employees who are on maternity or adoption leave. There are subtle differences between what are labelled as Defined Contributions to a Money Purchase pension scheme (which include all Group Personal Pension … Continue reading Pension rights when on maternity leave
The State Pension is increasing by 8.5 percent… as part of the Government’s commitment to support pensioners in retirement Millions of pensioners benefit from 8.5 percent increase to the State Pension Pensioners will receive an extra £900 a year on the full rate of the new State Pension Universal Credit and other working-age benefits see … Continue reading £900 rise to state pension
Automatic enrolment (AE) into workplace pensions has been a great success to date. Since 2012 over 11 million people having been enrolled into a pension and over 2.3 million employers having met their automatic enrolment duties. Since the introduction of AE, total annual pension saving by eligible employees has increased by nearly £29 billion in … Continue reading Pension AE: Earnings Trigger and Qualifying Earnings Band Frozen for 2024/25
Paul Maynard, Minister for Pensions Minister for Pensions Paul Maynard addressed an audience at the Professional Pensions Investment Conference on Thursday 23 November 2023. Thank you all for joining me today and thank you to the Professional Pensions Investment Conference for hosting me so generously. My job as Minister for Pensions is to ensure that … Continue reading Putting savers at the forefront and supporting the UK economy
Private Members’ Bill to help millions save more into their pension and start saving sooner has cleared Parliament and been granted Royal Assent The Bill introduces powers to reduce the age for automatic enrolment and starts pension saving from the first pound earned. Since 2012, Automatic Enrolment has transformed pension saving, with around 11 million … Continue reading Pension AE changes on the way – but when?
75 years ago on 5th July 1948, the modern #StatePension was introduced. Starting from £67.60 a year in 1948 to over £10,000 a year today, the State Pension continues to provide the foundation for retirement planning and financial security for millions across the country State Pension PAYadvice.UK 6/7/2023
More time is given to pay National Insurance contributions towards State Pension. Taxpayers now have until 5th April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 that may increase their State Pension - an extension of nearly 2 years. Extending the voluntary National Insurance contributions deadline until 2025 means that people … Continue reading Deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions extended to April 2025
HMRC have issued the April 2023 edition of the Employer Bulletin which brings the latest HMRC updates and guidance to support employers, payroll professionals and agents. In this month’s edition there are important updates and information on: PAYE (Pay As You Earn) Classification of company cars and vans for benefit in kind purposes Employer PAYE … Continue reading April 2023 Employer Bulletin
Thousands have been given more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record and help increase the amount they receive in State Pension. The government has extended the voluntary National Insurance deadline to 31st July 2023 to give people more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record and help increase the amount … Continue reading Deadline extension for voluntary National Insurance contributions
The Chancellor has, Thursday 17th November 2022, announced the Autumn Statement, its aim to restore stability to the economy, protect high-quality public services and build long-term prosperity for the United Kingdom. Chancellor unveils a plan for stability, growth, and public services. Tackling inflation is top of the priority list to stop it eating into paycheques … Continue reading Chancellor delivers plan for stability, growth and public services
NHS pension scheme changes could be extended to allow retired staff to retain pension benefits if they return to the NHS workforce The extension would make it easier for skilled professionals returning to the NHS to deliver high-quality care to patientsMove would help to bolster the workforce ahead of winter so they can continue catch … Continue reading Consultation on NHS pension changes to boost winter workforce
Collective Defined Contribution pension schemes, or CDCs for short, will offer an alternative to the UK’s two primary pension scheme models, Defined Contribution (DC) and Defined Benefit (DB). CDCs have the potential to provide improved retirement returns for savers, with more predictable costs for employers. Both employers and employees contribute to a collective fund from … Continue reading New pension scheme type launched
Low earners who save through a Net Pay Arrangement (NPA) pension will get the same level of government top-up as those who use Relief at Source schemes Around 1.2 million low earners will receive top-ups to their take-home pay from 2025 which could be worth hundreds of pounds a year. For NPAs, pension contributions are … Continue reading 1.2 million low earners to see boost in take-home pay
Minister for Pensions Guy Opperman has called on pension schemes of all types and sizes to make sure their data is ready for pensions dashboards. The calls come as the government publishes its response to a consultation which gathered feedback from industry, potential providers, consumer groups and future users on what data should be included … Continue reading Minister calls on pension schemes to get “data ready” for dashboards
HMRC have published their June 2022 edition of the employers bulletin. It covers a multitude of topics. A primary focus is on the National Insurance changes which come into force from 6th July 2022. Topics covered include: PAYE Changes to our webchat service Increase in National Insurance thresholds Basic PAYE Tools — additional in-year release … Continue reading June 2022 HMRC Employer Bulletin
Pensioners and their loved ones are being urged to take-up Pension Credit, as a new campaign is launched to help those of pension age with the cost of living. New statistics show many pensioners could be missing out on Pension Credit, a vital financial boost that can be worth over £3,300 a year. Starting April … Continue reading Eligible pensioners urged to apply for Pension Credit
New rules to ensure savers are fully informed of their options when seeking to access their pension pots became law Monday 17th January 2022. The “Stronger Nudge to pension guidance” measures, which come into force on 1st June 2022, will require occupational pension schemes to present guidance as a routine part of accessing pension savings. … Continue reading New measures introduced to protect savers and boost pension guidance take-up
A new type of pension scheme delivering reliable returns – and potentially boosting retirement incomes for millions, will soon become a reality after regulations were laid in Parliament. The new Collective Defined Contribution pension will see both the employer and employee pay into a collective fund, with pensions paid out from this shared pot. Benefits … Continue reading New CDC pension scheme one step closer
Plans to protect small pension pots from being eroded by charges will be introduced in April 2022. Hundreds of thousands of people will benefit from the new rules outlined by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Tuesday 9th November 2021, which will introduce a threshold at which pensions providers will no longer be able … Continue reading New rules put pension savers’ interests first
New measures to protect pension savers and help stop scam transfers in their tracks became law Monday 8th November 2021. The new regulations, which come into force on Tuesday 30th November 2021 mean suspicious transfers can be stopped from ending up in the hands of a fraudster, as pension trustees and scheme managers get new … Continue reading New measures protect pension savers from scams
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions explains uprating for State Pension and Industrial Death Benefit in relation to the general level of earnings for 2022 to 2023. Oral statement to Parliament With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the annual up-rating of State Pensions and survivors’ benefits in Industrial … Continue reading Annual review of State Pension and Industrial Death Benefit rates
In its response to the consultation on how to implement the normal minimum pension age increase and the proposed protections framework, the government will legislate in the Finance Bill to increase the normal minimum pension age from 55 to 57 on 6th April 2028. This is the age at which most members of registered pension … Continue reading Increasing the normal minimum pension age: consultation response
Plans to support savers seeking access to their pension pots agave been outlined in a change to ensure people are fully informed before moving their money. Currently, when people want access to their savings, their pension scheme is only required to tell them that free, impartial guidance is available from Pension Wise. New “Stronger Nudge” … Continue reading Savers urged to be savvy before shifting savings
The Pensions Regulator is reminding employers that while the workplace has changed due to the pandemic, their workplace pensions duties have not. All employers have a legal duty to automatically enrol eligible staff into a workplace pension and pay in the correct contributions for them. While these are uncertain times for all employers, they must … Continue reading Employers: Your business might have changed, but your workplace pension duties haven’t.
Savers will have a much clearer picture of their pension pots from next year, thanks to government plans to introduce simpler annual statements. Under new regulations to be outlined this week, the government will require pension schemes to issue their members two-page documents highlighting in simple terms key information including the size of the saver’s … Continue reading Simpler information to transform pension understanding for savers