Automatic enrolment overview - The law on workplace pensions has changed. Whether you’re a hairdresser, an architect or you employ a personal care assistant or a nanny, if you employ just one person, then you are an employer and have 'duties' under pensions law. Automatic enrolment means that you – along with every other employer […]

So what are the six steps to Auto-Enrolment?   1. Find out your staging date The date you need to comply with your automatic enrolment duties is called your ‘staging date’. The Pensions Regulator will write to you telling you what your staging date is. Or you can find out yourself on their website – […]

You can get £88.45 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. It’s paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. You need to qualify for SSP and have been off work sick for 4 or more days in a row (including non-working days). You can’t get less than the […]

Tax and tax credit rates and thresholds for 2015-16. 2014-15 2015-16 Per cent of income / £ a year Basic rate 20% 20% Higher rate 40% 40% Additional rate 45% 45% Starting rate for savings income (*) 10% 0% Dividend ordinary rate 10% 10% Dividend upper rate 32.5% 32.5% Dividend additional rate 37.5% 37.5% Trust […]

Transferable Allowances for married couples and civil partners In the 2013 Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced that from the tax year beginning 6 April 2015 where neither spouse is liable to income tax above the basic rate, individuals will be able to transfer part of their tax free personal allowances to their spouse or civil […]