Temporary workers - your pension obligations
If you’re employing temporary workers for the summer season don’t forget that they have the same rights to join your workplace pension as permanent employees. What do you need to do?
Pension auto-enrolment
Workplace pensions have been around for over a decade. Despite this, every year some employers forget that temporary employees they take on, say during the summer period, have the same rights to workplace pensions as their full-time workers. Because of this HMRC is currently running a campaign to remind employers.
Assess and advise
If you’re an employer you must assess temporary staff for their right to be enrolled in your workplace pension scheme each time you pay them, even if they only work for you for a few days.
If you don’t assess your employees for entitlement to join your workplace pension it can result in a warning from HMRC or The Pensions Regulator. This can escalate to a fine of £400 initially and then daily penalties of between £50 and £10,000.
You can avoid having to assess your employees if they will work for you for no more than three months. Do this by using the auto-enrolment postponement procedure.
Related Topics
-
Self-employed taxpayers warned over missing Class 2 NI credits
HMRC is warning some self-employed taxpayers to check their National Insurance (NI) records after an issue affecting Class 2 NI credits came to light. The problem could leave some individuals with gaps in their contribution record, potentially affecting their entitlement to the State Pension and other contributory benefits. What should you do?
-
When is pensions advice exempt from tax?
You’re close to retirement age and want some professional advice on topping up your pension and a rough idea of how much you’ll have to live on in retirement. If your company foots the bill, will it qualify for the tax exemption?
-
HMRC takes aim at side hustles
People with side hustles are the target of a HMRC press release reminding them of their potential tax obligations. Why has this been published now, and what are the key points to remember?