News

Pension schemes

Pension Contributions During Maternity Leave: A Practical Guide for Employers and Payroll Teams

Pension treatment during maternity leave is a frequent source of queries and potential payroll errors. The rules combine employment law protections, auto-enrolment duties and the terms of the pension scheme itself. Correct application protects employees’ pension rights and reduces compliance risk for employers. Statutory Maternity Leave lasts up to 52 weeks and is divided into […]

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Pension Contributions During Maternity Leave: A Practical Guide for Employers and Payroll Teams

Budgets & Fiscal Announcements

Autumn Budget Rethink!

No sooner had we discussed the potential for tax rises to be included in the Chancellors’ Budget on the 26 November, it now seems that the Government may have had a change of heart. It was never going to be the most popular choice, given it would lead to a renege on the Governments’ manifesto […]

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HMRC Guidance & Employer Bulletins

HMRC App Hits 5.6 million Users

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has revealed that over 5.6 million people have used the HMRC app since 6 April 2025 – and it’s proving the perfect conversation starter for money matters across generations. This year’s theme, ‘start the conversation’, couldn’t be more timely. Whether its grandparents explaining National Insurance to teenage grandchildren, parents checking Child Benefit eligibility, or siblings […]

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Pay, Benefits & Expenses

Reeves Eyes £2,000 Cap on Salary Sacrifice

As the chill of autumn sets in, so does the anticipation for Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first major Budget on November 26. Whispers from Westminster suggest a stealthy tax tweak that could quietly reshape how millions save for retirement: a £2,000 annual cap on salary sacrifice contributions to pensions. If confirmed, this move would claw back […]

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Pensions.

Pensions Market Shake-Up to Boost UK Investment

In her first Mansion House speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has set her sights on reviving the UK’s economic growth with a bold proposal to reshape the country’s pensions market. Reeves unveiled plans to create “pension megafunds” aimed at unlocking up to £80 billion of investment for businesses and infrastructure projects across the UK. The […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

House of Lords Stands Firm on Employment Rights Bill

House of Lords Stands Firm on Employment Rights Bill as Unfair Dismissal Debate Intensifies The government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill has hit another roadblock, as the House of Lords stood firm on key amendments rejected by MPs reigniting the debate over the future of unfair dismissal rights and wider workplace protections. Peers reaffirmed their position […]

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Student Loans & Payroll Deductions

UK Student Loan Refunds Hit £175 Million in 2024/25

In a significant boost for recent graduates and long-term borrowers, the UK’s Student Loans Company (SLC) has processed refunds totalling £175.2 million for over 721,100 individuals in the 2024/25 tax year. This marks a sharp rise from the previous year’s £61.1 million disbursed to 216,300 customers, highlighting persistent challenges in the Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

Consultations on Employment Rights

The Government launches Consultations on key Make Work Pay measures including protections for pregnant women and new mothers at work, bereavement leave and trade union reforms. The consultations are seeking views on how to shape reforms on proposals put forward to develop employment rights further for workers. Enhancing dismissal protections for pregnant women and new […]

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Pay, Benefits & Expenses

Not quite the end of the P11d/P11d(b)

As part of the Autumn Budget 2024 information, the government have confirmed that from April 2026, it will be mandatory to payroll all benefits in kind except for: Payrolling for these two benefits will be introduced on a voluntary basis, also from April 2026, and the government will set out the next steps on when […]

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Budgets & Fiscal Announcements

SNCP – Statutory Neonatal Care Paye – ITEPA Update

Social security benefits in the UK are managed by several government departments and devolved administrations. The tax treatment of these benefits is defined within Income Tax legislation, and each new benefit’s tax status is confirmed at its introduction. The government is now clarifying the tax treatment of Statutory Neonatal Care Pay, part of the Neonatal […]

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Tax & National Insurance Updates

Changes to secondary Class 1 (employers’) National Insurance

Changes to secondary Class 1 (employers’) National Insurance — reducing the secondary threshold, increasing the rate, and changes to the Employment Allowance As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the government will introduce legislation to reduce the Class 1 National Insurance contributions secondary threshold, from £9,100 to £5,000 per annum. This will take effect from 6 […]

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News

Pension Contributions During Maternity Leave: A Practical Guide for Employers and Payroll Teams

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