Latest payroll and employer updates
Short, practical updates on the changes that affect UK employers: HMRC announcements, Budget measures, minimum wage, pensions, statutory pay and employment law. Each post links to the official GOV.UK source and tells you what, if anything, you need to do.
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- Autumn Budget 2026: the confirmed payroll changes for employersThe National Living Wage rises to £13.21 an hour from 1 April 2027, National Insurance rates stay the same, and the 55p mileage rate is now permanent. Here's what the 28 October Budget means for payroll.
- Christmas payroll 2026: early paydays, RTI dates and tax-free staff treatsPaying staff early for Christmas 2026? HMRC wants the normal payday on your FPS. Plus the November PAYE payment that falls on a weekend, December bank holidays, and the £150 party and £50 gift rules.
- Mileage rates rose to 55p a mile: has your payroll caught up?The tax-free mileage rate for cars and vans went up from 45p to 55p a mile for 2026/27, backdated to 6 April 2026. Here's what it means for expense payments, tax and NI on payslips, and corrections before year-end.
- Payrolling benefits in kind: registration opens in November 2026Company cars, fuel, vans and medical cover must go through payroll from 6 April 2027. HMRC's registration service for payrolling other benefits opens in November 2026, with a 5 April 2027 deadline.
- October 2026 employment law changes: what they mean for payrollSince 1 October 2026, staff have six months instead of three to claim for unlawful deductions from wages. Here's what that means for payroll errors, pay records and how quickly to fix underpayments.
- Autumn Budget 2026: what employers should watch on 28 OctoberThe Chancellor delivers the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026. Here are the payroll announcements to look out for, including the April 2027 minimum wage rates, and when we'll publish the confirmed figures.