Employee payroll – What do you need to know?

Exploring the complexities of payroll management is crucial for running a thriving business.

A key step in this journey is familiarising yourself and understanding the multiple responsibilities that business owners have in relation to managing their team’s payroll.

Ensuring wages are paid out accurately and on time is vital to upholding employee morale as well as meeting legal requirements.

The fundamentals

From the beginning, it is imperative for employers to register with the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) as soon they begin to take on staff.

This facilitates employers to deduct the appropriate amount of Income Tax and National Insurance contributions.

Calculating salaries

Determining an employee’s salary involves more than a simple multiplication of their hourly wage by the hours worked. Aspects such as bonuses, deductions and overtime must also be factored in.

Utilising payroll software or engaging a payroll specialist can help ensure that these calculations are precise.

Deductions

Employers are required to make the subsequent deductions on employee’s salaries:

• Income Tax – Guided by the HMRC-issued tax code and the employee’s earnings
• National Insurance – Mandatory contributions must be paid from both the employer and employee
• Student loan – Deductions must be made for qualifying employees earning above the set threshold
• Pension contributions – Where relevant, deductions must be made as per the auto-enrolment pension scheme

Adhering to National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage standards

It is the duty of employers to ensure that employees are paid at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, based on their age or employment status.

Keeping up to date with the latest changes to these rates is crucial to maintaining payroll accuracy.

Non-compliance can entail substantial fines and legal repercussions, which underlines the necessity of adhering to wage guidelines.

Reporting and record-keeping

Employers are obligated to routinely report wage details, deductions and other relevant data to HMRC, generally executed through a Full Payment Submission (FPS) in a real-time information reporting framework.

National Payroll Week

Starting on 4 – 8 September, National Payroll Week honours the payroll professionals who manage this indispensable business function.

Joining in the celebration of National Payroll Week is a gesture of appreciation towards the meticulous work of payroll specialists, while also promoting financial literacy through enlightening activities.

Payroll management is an intricate yet essential part of business operations, encompassing precise wage calculation, timely payments and meticulous reporting and documentation.

A proactive and informed approach can be a cornerstone in saving time, resources and avoiding stress in the future.

If you need further guidance on managing your business’s payroll, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.