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Payroll guides for UK employers

Clear, up-to-date explanations of the payroll rules that affect your business, written by our payroll team.

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In short

Buffalo Payroll's guides explain UK payroll rules for 2026/27 in plain English, with links to GOV.UK: rates and thresholds, payroll deadlines, Statutory Sick Pay, minimum wage, director salaries, benefits in kind and payroll bureau costs.

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Up-to-date payroll guidance

Payroll legislation changes every April, and 2026/27 is one of the busiest years in a long time: day-one Statutory Sick Pay, a big rise in youth minimum wage rates, and mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind on the way in April 2027. Our guides explain what's changed in plain English, with links to the official GOV.UK sources.

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Employer cost calculator 2026/27

Work out the true cost of an employee: salary, employer NI, pension and payroll fees.

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UK payroll rates and thresholds for 2026/27

Every key UK payroll figure for 2026/27: tax bands, employer NI at 15%, £5,000 secondary threshold, £10,500 Employment Allowance, SSP, minimum wage, student loans and auto-enrolment.

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Statutory Sick Pay changes from April 2026

From 6 April 2026, SSP is paid from day one and the Lower Earnings Limit is removed. SSP is £123.25 a week or 80% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. What employers need to do.

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Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind from April 2027

From 6 April 2027, company cars, car fuel, vans, van fuel and medical benefits must be payrolled. Most other benefits follow in April 2028. What employers and accountants need to do now.

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How much does a payroll bureau cost in the UK?

How much outsourced payroll costs in the UK in 2026: per-payslip, per-employee and fixed-fee pricing explained, with real examples for 1 to 50 employees and what should be included.

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Taking on your first employee: a payroll checklist

A step-by-step UK payroll checklist for taking on your first employee in 2026: registering as an employer, right to work, minimum wage, PAYE, pensions and payslips.

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Director salary thresholds for 2026/27

The 2026/27 thresholds that shape limited company director salaries: £6,708 Lower Earnings Limit, £5,000 secondary threshold, £12,570 primary threshold and Employment Allowance rules.

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National Minimum Wage rates from April 2026

April 2026 National Minimum Wage rates: £12.71 National Living Wage, £10.85 for 18 to 20, £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices. Common minimum wage payroll mistakes to avoid.

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UK payroll deadlines for 2026/27

Every UK payroll deadline for 2026/27 in one calendar: FPS on payday, EPS by the 19th, PAYE payment by the 22nd, CIS returns, P60s by 31 May, P11Ds by 6 July and Class 1A by 22 July.

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