The government has announced proposals to extend pensions auto enrolment to include younger workers and to amend the way in which contributions are calculated.

According to the press release:

‘The review’s recommendations, which will now be progressed and legislated for where necessary, will see:

• automatic enrolment duties continuing to apply to all employers, regardless of sector and size
• young people, from 18 years old, benefiting from automatic enrolment, introducing 900,000 young people into saving an additional £800 million through a workplace pension
• workplace pension contributions calculated from the first pound earned, rather than from a lower earnings limit – this will bring an extra £2.6 billion into pension saving, improving incentives for people in multiple jobs to opt-in, and simplifying the way employers assess their workforces and calculate contributions
• the earnings trigger remaining at £10,000 for 2018/19, subject to annual reviews
• contribution levels reviewed after the implementation of the 8% contribution rate in 2019
• the government testing a series of ‘targeted interventions’ – including through opportunities to work with organisations who act as ‘touch points’ for the 4.8 million self-employed people, such as banks and those who contract labour – to explore how technology can be used to increase their pension saving.’

Under auto enrolment, employers are required to automatically enrol all eligible workers (generally employees) into a workplace pension scheme and pay a minimum contribution into their pension. Employees do, however, have the right to opt out of auto enrolment.

Currently workers who are aged between 22 and the State Pension Age with earnings of £10,000 per annum are eligible to be auto enrolled. Younger employees and those who do not meet the minimum income requirement can opt to make pension contributions.

The government plan to reduce the lower age limit to 18 by the mid 2020s, in order to encourage younger workers to get into ‘the habit of saving’.

David Gaulke, Work and Pensions Secretary said:

‘We are committed to enabling more people to save while they are working, so that they can enjoy greater financial security when they retire. We know the world of work is changing, so it is only right that pension saving does too. This ambitious package will see more people than ever before helped onto the path towards building a secure retirement.’

Mike Cherry, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), stated:

‘Requiring employers to contribute from the first pound of earnings will mean that, by 2019, hundreds of thousands of small employers will have to pay up to £180 more per employee each year. ‘For employers in certain sectors, such as care and hospitality where margins are tight, this will really add up.’

Contact us if you would like help with payroll and auto enrolment.

Internet links: GOV.UK news FSB press release

The Scottish government announced that they will introduce a new Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) relief for first-time buyers of properties up to £175,000. The relief will raise the zero tax threshold for first-time buyers from £145,000 to £175,000, and according to the Scottish government 80% of first-time buyers in Scotland will pay no LBTT at all. The Scottish government also announced that first-time buyers buying a property above £175,000 will also benefit from the relief on the portion of the price below the threshold.

The Scottish government announced that they will launch a consultation on the policy before introducing the first-time buyer relief in 2018/19. The relief for first-time buyers paying Stamp Duty Land Tax on first homes in the rest of the UK was introduced from 22 November 2017.

Internet link: GOV.SCOT publication

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay delivered the 2018/19 Scottish Draft Budget on Thursday 14 December 2017 setting out the Scottish government’s financial and tax plans.

The Scottish government has the power to set the rates and bands of income tax (other than those for savings and dividend income) which apply to Scottish resident taxpayers.

Since 6 April 2016 the rates and bands of Scottish income tax have been frozen at 20% and the Scottish higher and Scottish additional rates at 40% and 45% respectively. For 2017/18 the higher rate threshold in Scotland is £43,000 whilst the threshold in the rest of the UK is £45,000. This means that a Scottish higher rate taxpayer will pay £400 more tax in 2017/18 than a UK higher rate taxpayer, being £2,000 at the marginal rate of 20%.

For 2018/19 the rates and tax bands applicable to Scottish taxpayers on non-savings and non dividend income will be as follows:

* assuming the individual is entitled to a full UK personal allowance
** the personal allowance will be reduced if an individual’s adjusted net income is above £100,000. The allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000

The UK higher rate tax point for 2018/19 has been set at £46,350 (for those entitled to the full UK personal allowance) and the tax rates for non-savings and non-dividend income have been maintained at 20%, 40% and 45% respectively.

For 2018/19 Scottish taxpayers with employment income of £26,000 will pay the same amount of income tax as those with the similar income in the rest of the UK. For higher earners, with pay of £150,000, a Scottish taxpayer will pay an extra £1,770 of income tax than those on similar income in the rest of the UK.

Internet link: GOV.SCOT publication

The Scottish Draft Budget announced the introduction of new income tax rates for Scottish taxpayers.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay delivered the 2018/19 Scottish Draft Budget on Thursday 14 December 2017 setting out the Scottish Government’s financial and tax plans.

A reminder – a Scottish taxpayer

Following devolution of some tax powers and the introduction of separate Scottish income tax bands (and rates) it has been necessary to define and identify a Scottish taxpayer. A Scottish taxpayer is someone who is UK resident for tax purposes and has one place of residence which is in Scotland.

Individuals who have more than one place of residence in the UK need to determine which of these has been their main place of residence for the longest period in a tax year. Individuals who cannot identify a main place of residence will need to count the days they spend in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. If they spend more days in Scotland, they will be a Scottish taxpayer. Guidance on determining whether an individual is a Scottish resident can be found at www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/scottish-taxpayer-technical-guidance/sttg2000

Scottish Income tax

Following devolution the Scottish Government has the power to set the rates and bands of income tax (other than those for savings and dividend income) which apply to Scottish resident taxpayers. Since 6 April 2016 the income tax rates and bands for Scottish taxpayers have been frozen at 20%, 40% and 45% respectively.

2017/18 comparison

For 2017/18 the higher rate threshold in Scotland is £43,000 whilst the threshold in the rest of the UK is £45,000. This means that a Scottish higher rate taxpayer will pay £400 more tax in 2017/18 than a UK higher rate taxpayer, being £2,000 at the marginal rate of 20%.

Rates and bands for 2018/19

In the 2018/19 Draft Budget the Finance Secretary announced two new income tax bands: a starter rate of 19% for the first £2,000 of income above the personal allowance and a 21% intermediate rate for income between £24,000 and the higher rate threshold. In addition, whilst the basic rate will be frozen at 20% the higher and additional (to be renamed ‘top’) rates of tax will increase by 1% to 41% and 46% respectively.

For 2018/19 the rates and tax bands applicable to Scottish taxpayers on non-savings income will be as follows:

* assuming the individual is entitled to a full UK personal allowance

** the personal allowance will be reduced if an individual’s adjusted net income is above £100,000. The allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000

The UK higher rate tax point for 2018/19 has been set at £46,350 (for those entitled to the full UK personal allowance) and the tax rates for non-savings and non-dividend income have been maintained at 20%, 40% and 45% respectively.

Better or worse off

The introduction of the starter rate of 19% means Scottish taxpayers on low pay will be better off than those in the rest of the UK by £20!

Scottish taxpayers with employment income of £26,000 will pay the same amount of income tax as those with the similar income in the rest of the UK. For higher earners, with pay of £150,000, a Scottish taxpayer will pay an extra £1,770 of income tax than those on similar income in the rest of the UK.

Employers of Scottish taxpayers

Employers should be aware that if an employee is classed as a Scottish taxpayer then a special PAYE code (S) will apply and should be notified to employers and pension providers by HMRC.

An employer does not have to make any assessments on taxpayer status. Employers should not change a tax code unless advised to do so by HMRC. Employers of Scottish taxpayers need to ensure their payroll software has the capability to deal with S codes.

It is important to keep HMRC informed of your correct address details as this information is crucial in determining whether or not you are a Scottish taxpayer. Employees can check and update their address details through their online Personal Tax Account at www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account.

Proposed change to LBTT for First-Time Buyers

Although the announcement of new income tax rates and bands made the headlines, the Draft Budget also included an announcement for first time buyers and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). The Government announced proposals for LBTT relief for first-time buyers of properties up to £175,000. This relief will raise the zero tax threshold for first-time buyers from £145,000 to £175,000, and according to the Scottish Government 80% of first-time buyers in Scotland will pay no LBTT at all. First-time buyers buying a property above £175,000 will also benefit from the relief on the portion of the price below the threshold.

The Scottish Government announced that they will launch a consultation on the policy before introducing the first-time buyer relief in 2018/19. The relief for first-time buyers paying Stamp Duty Land Tax on first homes in the rest of the UK was introduced from 22 November 2017.

Devolution – Land Transaction Tax

With Wales set to introduce Land Transaction Tax in April 2018 and having devolved powers over income tax from April 2019 there are lots of changes to get to grips with. Details of the Welsh proposals can be found at www.gov.wales/funding/fiscal-reform/welsh-taxes/land-transaction-tax

The government has announced that it will introduce legislation, to abolish Class 2 national insurance contributions (NIC) and to make further proposed NIC changes in 2018.

The measures the legislation will implement,  will now take effect one year later than previously announced, from April 2019. These measures include the abolition of Class 2 NIC paid by self employed individuals, reforms to the Class 1A NIC treatment of termination payments (the £30,000 rule) and changes to the NICs treatment of sporting testimonials.

On 2 November 2017 the Government announced a one year delay to the abolition of Class 2 NICs. Class 2 NICs will now be abolished from 6 April 2019 rather than 6 April 2018.

The government have stated that ‘the delay will allow time for the government to engage with interested parties and Parliamentarians with concerns relating to the impact of the abolition of Class 2 NICs on self-employed individuals with low profits’.

Internet links: GOV.UK abolition Class 2 National insurance Bill