With a rise in exploitation and non-compliance in the recruitment industry, it has never been more important for all links of the supply chain to work together and ensure a good working practice.Since the IR35 reform, a number of contractors are now turning to umbrella companies for their payroll needs. Unfortunately, there has seen a rise in disguised remuneration schemes and bad practices amongst some businesses. A number of firms are actually tax-avoiding and deceiving contractors into … [Read more...]
Government extends Right to Work checks
The UK Government have today announced that the temporary Right to Work checks for employers has been extended until April 2022.Since the national lockdown in March 2020, employers have been able to carry out right to work checks remotely, without having to see any hard copies of documents. The initial checking process meant that job applicants or existing workers were required to send their original documents. This inevitably proved to be challenging when stay at home restrictions were in … [Read more...]
HMRC reveal bizarre excuses for not paying NMW
Following the latest HMRC press release naming and shaming employers for paying staff less than minimum wage, they have now published some of the excuses employers have used for failing to pay staff at minimum wage.HMRC recognises that the vast majority of employers ensure they pay their employees at least the NMW, but, in tax year 2020-21, it has helped over 155,000 workers in the UK to recover more than £16 million in pay they were entitled to. In addition, it has issued over £14 million … [Read more...]
Job vacancies reach the 1 million milestone
The month of July saw more than a million job openings, the first on record since the economy recovers from the pandemic.Figures published by the ONS also showed that the number of employees on payrolls rose by 182,000 last month - though this was still 201,000 below the pre-crisis levels.Arts, leisure and food service firms were among those making a big contribution to the surge in job vacancies.Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at Capital Economics, said the jobs data should calm … [Read more...]
HMRC update: New proposal to clamp down on promoters of tax avoidance
HMRC have published further updates on the proposal to clamp down on tax avoidance schemes.The measure is targeted at the most persistent and determined promoters and enablers of tax avoidance.The proposed legislative changes are designed to clamp down on the supply of tax avoidance arrangements and include:a new power for HMRC to seek freezing orders that would prevent promoters from dissipating or hiding their assets before paying the penalties that are charged as a result of … [Read more...]
Right to work in the UK changes for EEA Citizens
With less than two weeks until the right to work checks change for EU residence whom are continuing to live and work in the UK, the employer’s right to work guidance has now been updated.From 1 July 2021, EEA citizens and their family members require immigration status in the UK. They can no longer rely on an EEA passport or national identity card, which only confirms their nationality, to prove their right to work. They will be required to provide evidence of lawful immigration status in … [Read more...]
Umbrella Company or PAYE?
Understand the difference and find out which is the right option for you. Opting to work through an umbrella company is an increasingly popular payroll option in the UK for temporary workers and contractors. However, the understanding of what this actually means for workers is still largely misunderstood. This article aims to highlight in simple terms the differences between umbrella companies and agency PAYE systems; their functions and how worker payroll is processed. This article … [Read more...]
Recognise the Signs of Payroll Fraud
Identifying suspicious activity can help your business save thousands of pounds every year from payroll fraud. Private sector businesses are losing in excess of £12bn each year to payroll fraud. Payroll fraud is simply described as employees who try to defraud the payroll system at their place of employment in order to gain more money they are not entitled to. For larger corporations, undetected payroll fraud may not pose a huge threat but for smaller businesses can have a … [Read more...]
Future of Lockdown: UK Government Guidelines
A paper published by the House of Commons on April 2nd, 2021, outlines the rules around COVID-19 and returning to work. Here is a brief summary which outlines lockdown legislation, employer’s health and safety obligations and when workers can refuse to work.Download full report here.In late March 2020, the UK Government imposed a National lockdown in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic that swept the country. Government imposed rules that prohibited people from going to … [Read more...]
Education Agencies, a Growing Trend geared towards Outsourcing Payroll
ePayMe National Account Director Paul Johnston explains the reasons behind the noticeable increase of outsourced payroll by education agencies. Since the start of COVID pandemic we have seen a substantial increase in education agencies that are outsourcing to umbrella services like ourselves to manage their internal payroll (PAYE). Paul outlines the many pros for agency workers when acquiring umbrella services.Since the termination of expenses back in 2016, many workers felt … [Read more...]