Our Auto-Enrolment Services

Auto-enrolment is a government initiative that requires all employers, whatever the size of their company, to automatically enrol all employees into a workplace pension scheme. If you are a small or medium-sized enterprise, you probably don’t have in-house payroll services to take on the burden for you, and deal with all the responsibilities involved. Failure to comply could result in your business being fined up to £2,500 per day, so it must be properly implemented.

Auto-enrolment is a complicated task and can be very time-consuming for a business to administer correctly. 

At AK Tax we can shoulder the weight by implementing and running your auto-enrolment scheme for you. Let us take the stress and worry out of the process and give you the peace of mind of knowing that your business is 100% compliant. 

What Auto-Enrolment means for your Business

Pension auto-enrolment means that employees are automatically enrolled into a pension scheme when they join your company, as long as they fall under the following criteria:

  • They earn over £10,000 per year (£833 per month/£192 per week)
  • They are 22 or over
  • They are a UK resident
  • They are under state pension age
  • They are not already part of a qualifying workplace pension scheme

By law, you and your staff have to pay a minimum amount into the pension scheme, which is currently set at 8% of their earnings. Employees must pay at least 4% from their pre-tax salary, whilst employers pay at least 3%, though you can choose to pay more if you wish. The final 1% is provided by the government offering tax relief on the pension pot.

There are several steps you need to take to ensure your business is prepared for auto-enrolment:

  • Ensure you have a workplace pension scheme.
  • Communicate the pension rules to employees in a written letter.
  • Automatically enroll all of your employees.
  • Register your business with The Pensions Regulator.
  • Contribute to your employees’ pension pots.
  • Facilitate any staff who wish to opt out of the scheme.
  • Maintain up-to-date and accurate records.
  • Complete your declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator.

At AK Tax we take the pressure off all of the regulatory headache by making sure your business is auto-enrolment compliant.

slice

FAQ

When should an employee be Auto-Enrolled?

Employee data for an eligible employee can be uploaded if they are between 22 and State Pension age by the pay period end date of the file you are uploading. Only eligible employees are automatically enrolled but all employees aged between 16-74 have the right to opt in to a pension scheme.

What is the criteria for Auto-Enrolment?

New employees must be assessed to see if they are eligible on the day they start work. To be eligible for auto-enrolment, employees must be between the ages of 22 and State Pension age, earn more than £10,000 a year, be resident in the UK and not already part of a workplace pension scheme.

Who is exempt from Auto-Enrolment?

If your staff earn below £5,876 or between £5,876 and £10,000 annually, auto-enrolment does not apply. However, all staff members have to right opt in. The difference is that employers are not required to contribute to a pension fund for staff earning less than £5,876 but they have to contribute as normal for those earning over it.

How long can an employer postpone Auto-Enrolment?

You can delay assessing and auto-enrolling your employees for up to three months. You must write to your staff to inform them their auto-enrolment is being postponed. An example of needing to do this might be if you have short-term staff who you know will stop working for you within three months.

What is the Auto-Enrolment staging date?

The staging date is the date employer duties come into effect, which means you need to have a pension scheme in place and be ready to enrol employees. You can check your staging date on The Pensions Regulator website using your PAYE reference.

Explore our Business Advisory Guides

Maximising VAT Returns: A Guide for UK Retailers

For UK retailers, managing Value Added Tax (VAT) is more than just ticking a box for HMRC; it’s a crucial part of keeping your business running smoothly and profitably. The good news is that with the right strategies, VAT doesn’t have to be a headache. In fact, managing it well can help improve your cash […]

Read more

How Self-Assessment Affects Property Owners: Key Considerations

If you’re a landlord or property investor in the UK, navigating the self-assessment process can feel like one more administrative burden on your already full plate. But understanding how self-assessment works, and how it affects your property income, is crucial to staying compliant and making the most of the tax reliefs available to you. Whether […]

Read more

Key Considerations When Choosing a Business Structure

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, the way in which you structure your business has lasting implications for taxes, legal liabilities and growth potential. While choosing the right structure may seem daunting, getting it right can help you optimise efficiency and minimise risk. A poor decision, however, may result in unnecessary costs or legal […]

Read more

Read all our Business Advisory guides

Top

Get in touch

Please complete the form and we'll be in touch as soon as possible.

    Get in touch

    Whether you’re starting up or you’re an established business, we’ll make your work with us as easy as humanly possible – starting from the time you get in touch. Just call us on 01634 540040 or complete the form below and we’ll get back to you ASAP.