Principles of payroll Flashcards
What is the purpose of the strict rules and regulations around payroll? P109
- Correct amount - on/ before due date
- deadlines - HMRC, pension, external bodies
- prompt changes
When must a person/ business register as an employer ? P109
- Employ staff
- Only employing themselves
When in time must a business/ person register as an employer ? P110
- Before the first payday
- Not 2 months
How long does it take a business to receive its PAYE reference number ? P110
- 5 working days
What does the HMRC require for a business to register as an employer online, if it has an online tax account ? P110 - 10 points
- Unique Tax reference
- name
- address
- first payment date
- employee numbers
- register for CIS
- expenses and benefits
- sole trader/ director name
- sole trader/ director national insurance numbers
Why are employers required to use computerised payroll software , and what process does it use to submit information to the HMRC ? P110
- Up to date info to HMRC
- Who they employ
- what they are paid for
- Real time information (RTI)
What type of payroll software can a business use, depending on its size ? P110
- Commercial payroll bureau - HMRC behald of client
- purchase payroll software - recognised by HMRC
- payroll software - fewer than 10 employees
Will the HMRC recommend payroll software ? P110
- No
- will test - paid for/ free
- PAYE info - online/ RTI
What does the government set for each year, and when does the tax year run from and until ? P111
Tax rate and allowances - updated for each tax year
6th April - following 5th April
When should a business ensure that it updates it payroll software ? P111
- From 6th April earrlier
- latest rates and threshold - income tax, national insurance, and student loan repayment
*
When do tax months run ? P111
- 6th of one month to 5th of next
What records do the HMRC requre an employer to collect and keep ? P111 - 7 points
- Employees pay and deduction
- reports - HMRC
- Payment - HMRC
- Emplyees leave and sickness absence
- Tax code notices
- Expenses / benefits
- Payroll - scheme documents
How long should the records for payroll be kept? P111
- 3 years after end - tax year
- 6 year option - retention of other tax and accounting records
- electronic storing
What is the fine for failing to keep payroll records ? P111
£3000
The employees have the right to be told what about their data ? P112
- Records kept about them - how they’re used
- confidentiality
- training and development aid
How long does an employer have to respond if an employee asks to see data kept about them ? P112
- 30 days - copy of information
What regulation requires businsses to protect personal information they collect ? P113
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
What law controls how personal information is used by organisations, businsses, or the governemnt ? P113
Data Protection Act (2018)
What do data protection principles require from organisations ? P113
- Fairly, lawfully, and transparently
- explicit purposes
- adequate, relevant , limited to neccesity
- kept up to date
- no longer than necessary
- appropriate security
How does the HMRC go about checking the PAYE records of a business ? P113
- write/ phone
- visit
- failure = penalty
- reasonable excuse
What will the HMRC do once it’s checked the PAYE records of a business ? P113
- Written results
- Paid too much = refund & interests (HMRC at fault)
- Paid too little = 30 days = interests from day due = sometimes penalty for reason
What is gross pay ? P114
- before deduction - e.g. N.I
- annual amount
- per period
- per month
- hourly rate
- lump sum
What are additional/ alternative pay that employees may be entitleed to ? P115
- Holiday pay
- sick pay
- maternity pay
- paternity pay
What is taxable pay ? P115
- Gross pay - tax free elements
- Income tax charged
Is additional / alternative pay to gross pay subject to tax ? P115
- Yes
- Certain thresholds ( levels) exceeded
What is tax relief ? P115
- voluntary deduction permission - before income tax
- tax saved = tax relief
- ALSO - employee contributions - company pension
What is payroll giving ? P115
- Donations - charity
What is net pay ? P115
- Take home pay
- (total pay + allowances) - total deductions
What is a statutory deduction ? P116
Required by law
What is a non statutory deduction ? P116
emplyee must agree
What are the statutory deductions made from gross pay ? P116
- Pay as you earn (PAYE)
- National insurance contribution (NICs)
- student loans
- pensions
What is PAYE ? P116
- Sytem
- Income Tax
What is the amount of tax that an employee pays on their earnings determined by ? P116
Tax code
What does the number element of a tax code represent ? p116
- Multiply by 10
- Free pay
- untaxed pay
- employee’s personal allowance
What is pay over the personal allowance for tax taxed as as ? P116
- basic rate percentage ( 20%)
- > higher rate threshold = higher rate percentage ( 40%)
- additional rate tax (45%) - above additional rate threshold
What does the letter in the tax code show ? P116
- Number adjustment = general changes
- avoids - new tax code notifications
What does the change of tax code during the tax year usually represent ? P116
- Employees - paid too much / too little
- collection / refund
- reinstating free pay entitlement
When is the only time an employer can change the tax code of an employee ? P116
- HMRC notification
- from next payday
- HMRC instruction
What is national insurance contributions ? p117
- compulsory payments
- state assistance - sick, unemployed , or retired, pension, job seeker’s
What is the type of national insurance paid by employers and employees called ? P117
Class 1
What must individuals have to be eligible for a full state pension ? P117
- 35 years of wages > low earning limit for NI (£123) per week
- employees NI contribution > £242 week
What does the amount of class 1 NIC deducted from an employee’s pay depend on ? P117
- earning within certain bands
When do employers pay class 1 NIC ? P117
£175 per week exceeded (758 per month)
most emplyees = 13.8% pay
What is employment allowance ? P117
- Staff recruitment
- reduce their NIC liability
What makes a business/ charity eligible for employment allowance ? P117
- Previous tax year
- Employers’ class 1 national insurance Liabilities £100,000 >