What do I need to know about employing staff?

If you are thinking about employing a member of staff for the first time, it is worth considering the legal taxation impluications.

A great place to start is the HMRC website which has an introdctory section containing:

PAYE for employers: the basics
An overview of PAYE – key rules to follow, forms to be familiar with, records to keep, and dates and deadlines to remember

Register as an employer
Find out when you need to register with us, how to go about doing so – and when you don’t need to register

Choosing a payroll system
The pros and cons of doing your payroll yourself or outsourcing to a payroll professional, your choices if you keep it in-house

Taking on a new employee
Employer checks, dealing with forms P45 or P46 and tax codes, what to do if your employee doesn’t have an NI number or P45

Understanding employee tax codes
PAYE tax codes explained – why and when we send them and what the different codes mean

Simplified PAYE for domestic employees
Find out about simplified PAYE (Pay As You Earn) rules if you employ someone in your home, such as a nanny, housekeeper or carer

Useful Contacts

Citizens Advice Bureau. Employment page. www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment.htm

Clicdocs. A simple overview of staff employment and the opportunity to purchase all the relevany documents. http://www.clickdocs.co.uk/employing-staff.asp

Direct.gov. The Government's information contains a section dedicated to employment and employees right. www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.php

Jobcentre Plus. Vacancy Advertising Services, Recruitment Advisory Services. Effective Recruitment, Employment and skills support your business shouldn't be without. Help with Redundancies. www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

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