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Absolutely amazing, As a Chef that starting out on her first catering business, My knowledge is in the kitchen, not on the admin side! So I had gotten myself into a little pickle with paying an employee, Due to not understanding, And Jonathan Was able to instantly help me get to the problem and solve it all Very efficiently and professionally For now, I have just use their service as a one off, As I have realised myself as a sole trader Have not got enough customers currently To have constant staff, But when I do, I will absolutely be returning to You guys! Thanks again Charlotte Steam & Stone
Charlotte Walton
95 days ago
We have been using Crystal HR & Payroll Ltd since 2017 and it's been one of the best operational decisions we’ve made. What used to be a time-consuming process has become completely seamless, stress-free and has also freed up valuable internal resources. We don’t hesitate to recommend them to our contacts who may be looking to outsource their payroll services, to a company that will provide them with expertise, reliability and peace of mind.
Rahela Hussain
134 days ago
I’ve had a really positive experience working with Crystal as a payroll partner. While we’ve worked together on shared clients, the experience has been seamless from a client perspective, with payroll handled accurately, professionally and with minimal input needed, which is exactly what you want. As an HR consultant, it’s incredibly valuable to have a trusted payroll provider I can confidently recommend. Knowing that my clients will be well looked after, and that payroll will be managed reliably and compliantly, gives me real peace of mind. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer Crystal to other businesses looking for a dependable payroll partner.
Laura Fox
165 days ago
We recently engaged Crystal HR & Payroll company following concerns about the accuracy and reliability of our previous outsourced provider, and the difference has been nothing short of exceptional. Crystal conducted a comprehensive payroll and pension audit, giving us much-needed clarity and reassurance. Their thorough review uncovered a number of issues, which had previously been managed incorrectly. What truly stood out was Crystal's diligence and commitment. They worked incredibly hard to complete the audit as quickly as possible without compromising on detail or accuracy. Throughout the process, their communication was clear, concise, and easy to follow, ensuring we fully understood both the issues identified and the steps required to resolve them. Thanks to Crystal's expertise and professionalism, we now have complete confidence that our payroll and pensions are accurate and fully compliant. It’s such a huge relief to know we are now in such capable hands, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their services.
Lucy Mather
166 days ago
Crystal have been providing us their payroll service for 15 years. I would recommend them if reliability, ease of use and good customer service is important to you. The staff at Crystal are incredibly friendly yet professional and are patient and solution-focused when I've needed further help.
Home-Start Reading
201 days ago
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If you’re an employer, chances are you’re already feeling the squeeze from rising staff costs. With increases in the National Living Wage, pension contributions, and employer NICs, every bit of support matters and that's where the employment allowance comes in.
The Employment Allowance has long been one of the most valuable reliefs available to small and medium-sized employers, and in 2025, it’s more than doubled, but do you still qualify, and how do you claim it properly?
National Insurance
What is the Employment Allowance?
The Employment Allowance allows eligible employers to reduce their annual Class 1 National Insurance bill. For 2025/26, the amount you can claim has risen from £5,000 to £10,500, a lifeline for businesses facing the jump to 15% employer NICs.
What’s Changed in 2025/26?
Change
2024/25
2025/26
Employer NI Rate
13.8%
15%
Employment Allowance
£5,000
£10,500
Eligibility criteria
< £100k employer NICs
Still applies, but more businesses may now qualify
These changes are designed to help smaller businesses absorb higher employment costs, but it’s easy to miss out if you don’t stay on top of your payroll.
Who Can Claim?
You may be eligible if:
You employ staff through PAYE
Your total employer NICs were under £100,000 last tax year
You’re not doing over 50% public sector work (unless you're a charity)
You can’t claim if:
You’re the sole employee and a company director
You employ someone for domestic/personal work (e.g. a cleaner)
Real-Life Example: Saving £10,500 With a Simple Checkbox Tick
One of our new clients in Birmingham was hit hard by the new 15% NIC rate. With 25 staff, their monthly employer NI bill jumped from around £2,100 to nearly £2,400.
They weren’t claiming the Employment Allowance, their previous payroll provider had never claimed it for them and it was a simple tick-box exercise.
After a quick payroll review, we and checked with the client if they were eligible, we submitted the claim and saved them the full £10,500 allowance over current the year. That simple tick in the right box saved them 2 months' worth of employer NICs.
Not only that, but we back claimed for them, as they were eligible, saving them thousands of pounds. It's a quick simple process, so don't miss out otherwise you're literally throwing money away. If you need help, please get in touch.
“I had no idea we were missing out by so much. You saved us thousands with a 10-minute fix.” — Retail client, West Midlands
❓Common Questions About the Employment Allowance
Q: Can I claim if I use an outsourced payroll company? Yes, your payroll provider can claim it on your behalf (we do this for clients routinely), but you must confirm eligibility as the provider may not have this information.
Q: Will HMRC tell me if I qualify? No, it’s up to you (or your provider) to apply correctly. If you don’t claim it, you miss out, it's that simple.
Q: Can I carry the Employment Allowance over to next year if I don’t use it all? No, it’s use-it-or-lose-it within each tax year. If you don’t use the full amount before the end of the tax year, the unused balance doesn’t roll over.
However, if you were eligible in previous years but didn’t claim, you can still back-claim the Employment Allowance for up to 4 tax years, which can result in thousands in reclaimed NICs.
Q: Can connected companies each claim the Employment Allowance? No, only one company within a connected group can claim the allowance in any given tax year, and only if the combined Class 1 employer NICs across all connected companies are less than £100,000.
A ‘connected company’ usually means:
Companies under the same control (e.g. owned by the same person or group)
Businesses that are part of a group structure (like parent and subsidiary companies)
Entities that share common ownership or directors
Example: If you own two limited companies and both have staff, they count as connected. You can only claim Employment Allowance for one of them, and only if the total NICs across both stay under the threshold.
If in doubt, it’s worth reviewing ownership and control structures carefully or getting professional advice before claiming from someone such as your accountant.
Final Thoughts
With the employer NI rate now at 15%, the Employment Allowance could save your business over ten grand, but only if it’s set up properly.
If you're unsure how to check your eligibility, or if you want to make sure you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to, we’re happy to help. We’ve already reviewed claims for hundreds of UK businesses in 2025 alone.
