Employers will have more breathing space to implement new salary payment rules with the announcement of staggered penalties for late filing and payment, according to independent chartered accountants, WBV Ltd.
Penalties for late filing and late payment in relation to Real Time Information (RTI) were due to come into force next month, but following HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) customer feedback the process will instead be spread-out.
Under RTI, which came into force last year, employers are required to electronically submit details of salary payments and deductions as they are made, rather than waiting until the end of the tax year.
Automatic in-year Pay As You Earn (PAYE) penalties for late filing and late payment and in-year interest – charged on tax and national insurance contributions paid late during the year – were due to start from 6 April 2014.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says the introduction of RTI is going “extremely well for the majority of employers” but notes that there are still some employers who need more time to adapt to the changes.
However, following customer feedback HMRC has decided to stagger the start of the new in-year late filing and payment penalties to give employers more time to adapt to reporting payroll information in real time and for HMRC to correct errors within the system.
Said Stuart Harries, partner at Neath and Swansea based WBV Ltd, “This announcement will come as good news to many smaller businesses who may still be struggling to adapt to RTI.”
But he warned, “This does not mean you should become complacent, as the new dates will roll around a lot quicker than you expect. Instead, this extra time should be used to seek professional advice to ensure you are fully up to speed with your obligations.
“If you are still handling your own payroll then it may be a good idea to outsource this function to a dedicated payroll bureau, such as the one offered by your local accountant. By doing so, you will save valuable time and resources which could be put to better use elsewhere in your business, while also enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your obligations under RTI are being taken care of.”
The new timetable for the introduction of penalties will be as follows:
- April 2014: in-year interest on any in-year payments not made by the due date
- October 2014: automatic in-year late filing penalties
- April 2015: automatic in-year late payment penalties.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, please contact:
Stuart Harries
WBV Limited
Tel: 01639 635555
Email: stuartharries@wbv.ltd.uk
The Third Floor
Langdon House
Langdon Road
SA1 Swansea Waterfront
Swansea
SA1 8QY
Tel:01792 652108
Woodfield House
Castle Walk
Neath
SA11 3LN
Tel: 01639 635555
WBV Ltd is a member of the prestigious UK200 Group of independent practicing chartered accountants with offices throughout the UK and associates overseas.