Feb 2017
14
Employers – the P35 deadline is fast approaching, the deadline is February 15th. (Or 46 days after the cessation of the business) Failure to make a P35 return by this date may result in a fine.
The deadline for an employer who pays and files electronically via Revenue Online Services (ROS) is extended to the 23rd of February.
To view our online documentation for preparing and submitting your P35 to ROS via Thesaurus Payroll Manager or BrightPay please click on the links below:
Thesaurus Payroll Manager:
https://www.thesaurus.ie/docs/2016/year-end/preparing-the-ros-p35-file/
https://www.thesaurus.ie/docs/2016/year-end/submitting-the-ros-p35/
BrightPay:
https://www.brightpay.ie/docs/2016/year-end/preparing-a-p35-ros-file/
https://www.brightpay.ie/docs/2016/year-end/submitting-a-p35-to-ros/
Oct 2016
12
No changes have been made to SRCOPs, tax credits or PRSI classes. Emergency basis will also remain unchanged.
USC (Universal Social Charge: No changes were made to the USC exemption threshold of €13,000. The 1%, 3% and 5.5% rates have been reduced by 0.5% to 0.5%, 2.5% and 5% respectively. There has been no change to the 8% rate of USC. In addition the Rate 2 COP has been increased from €18,668 to €18,772.
Medical card holders and individuals aged 70 years and over whose aggregate income does not exceed €60,000 will pay a maximum rate of 2.5%. The rate of 8% USC will continue to apply under the Emergency Basis.
Minimum Wage:
The National Minimum Wage will increase from €9.15 gross per working hour to €9.25 gross per working hour.
• Workers under age 18 will be entitled to €6.48 (currently €6.41) per working hour.
• Workers in the first year of employment over the age of 18 will be entitled to €7.40 (currently €7.32) per working hour. Workers in the second year of employment over the age of 18 will be entitled to €8.33 (currently €8.24) per working hour.
Minimum wage for trainees:
Employee aged over 18, in structured training during working hours:
• 1st one third of course will increase to €6.94 (currently €6.86),
• 2nd third of course will increase to €7.40 (currently €7.32) 3rd part of course €8.33 (currently €8.24).
PRD (Pension Related Deduction)
Budget 2017 did not make any change to the rates and thresholds for PRD.
However, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 provides for the following changes:
• From 1st January 2017, the exemption threshold will increase from €26,083 to €28,750. 10% PRD will apply to earnings between €28,750 and €60,000, and 10.5% PRD will apply to any earnings in excess of €60,000.
PRSI
There were no changes to PRSI.
Dec 2015
1
Are you due a week 53?
Employers are only due a week 53 if there are 53 pay dates in the tax year. This situation will arise for employers in 2015 where their pay date falls on a Thursday. This is due to the fact that their first pay date fell on Thursday 1st January and their last pay date falls on Thursday 31st December. Employers with any other pay date will not be due a week 53. The same principle applies for employers who run fortnightly payroll (they are only due a week 54 if there are 27 pay periods in the tax year).
Week 53 PAYE Deductions
Employers should apply employee’s tax credits and standard rate cut off points on a week 1 basis. This means employees will get the benefit of more than one year’s tax credits and cut off points. Where an employee is on an emergency basis then an emergency basis should continue to apply.
Week 53 USC Deduction
Employers should apply USC standard cut offs on a week 1 basis. This is a change from last year where there were no additional thresholds granted. If an employee is on an emergency basis then an emergency basis should continue to apply for week 53. If an employee is exempt from USC they will continue to be exempt in week 53.
Week 53 PRSI Deduction
There is no change to the way PRSI is calculated.
Jul 2015
1
What is PAYE Anytime?
PAYE Anytime is the Revenues On-Line Service for employees. The service offers PAYE tax payers a secure way to manage their tax affairs online. PAYE Anytime is a self assessment system so employees are responsible for the information they provide.
You can register for PAYE Anytime by going to revenue.ie or by clicking on the below link.
https://www.ros.ie/selfservice/enterRegistrationDetails.faces
Fill in your personal details and a Revenue Pin will be posted to you.
What can you do on PAYE Anytime
• View your own tax records
• You can claim a wide range of tax credits
• You can use your profile to update your personal details; revenue can then use this information to suggest additional tax credits you may be entitled to
• You can claim a repayment for items such as health expenses (all receipts should be kept for a 6 year period)
• Request a P21 balancing statement (end of year review) for any of the last 4 years
• You can enter your bank account details so any refund due to you can be deposited directly to your bank account (revenue will not deduct money from your account if you have a tax liability)
• You can also declare additional income earned such as B.I.K’s and dividends
• If you are jointly accessed you can reallocate some of your tax credits or standard rate band between you and your spouse
• If you have multiple incomes you can reallocate your tax credits or standard rate band between your incomes
You don’t have to submit a paper claim when you submit transactions through PAYE Anytime. The service cannot be used by employees who submit a Form 11 or a Form 12 tax return to revenue on an annual basis.
PAYE Anytime now allows you to view your tax records from any computer or smart phone.
Dec 2014
17
Are you due a week 53?
Employers are only due a week 53 if there are 53 pay dates in the calendar year. This situation will arise for employers in 2014 where their pay date falls on a Wednesday. This is due to the fact that their first pay date fell on Wednesday 1st January and their last pay date falls on Wednesday 31st December. Employers with any other pay date will not be due a week 53. The same principle applies for employers who run fortnightly payroll (they are only due a week 27 if there are 27 pay periods in the calendar year).
Week 53 PAYE Deductions
Employers should apply employee’s tax credits and standard rate cut off points on a week 1 basis. This means employees will get the benefit of more than one year’s tax credits and cut off points. Where an employee is on an emergency basis then an emergency basis should continue to apply.
Week 53 USC Deduction
Where your employees operate on a cumulative basis continue to operate on a cumulative basis for week 53. For the purposes of USC there is no additional thresholds granted. If the employee has used all their USC cut offs in week 52 they will pay USC at the higher rate in week 53. Where your payroll operates on a week 1/month 1 basis employees will pay USC at the top rate. If an employee is on an emergency basis then an emergency basis should continue to apply for week 53. If an employee is exempt from USC they will continue to be exempt in week 53.
There is no change to the way PRSI is calculated.
Mar 2014
6
Revenue published a new Compliance Code for PAYE Taxpayers. This new Code describes Revenue’s PAYE compliance programme and the nature and scope of PAYE compliance interventions. This Code is effective from 18 November 2013 and all PAYE compliance interventions undertaken by Revenue will be made under the terms of this Code.
The Code can be downloaded here.
Sep 2013
6
A new report presented to Social Welfare Minister Joan Burton recommends the PRSI rate for self employed and proprietary directors should go up from current rate of 4% to 5.5% to fund extra social benefits for those who work for themselves.
The higher PRSI rate would be used to fund the paying of long-term illness and disability benefits for the self employed, which are not available to those who work for themselves at the moment.
However, the higher PRSI payment that the advisory group recommends for all the self-employed to pay for disability benefits, is set to be opposed by business group ISME The report also states that it would provide a safety net for those who want to start a business.
The cabinet has approved publication of the report, however it remains unclear if the recommendations will form part of next month's budget.
Jul 2013
31
Cycling has become one of the biggest growing trends in Ireland when it comes to commuting to and from work and also exercising.
It is a prime example of how well an incentive scheme can work, as the bike to work scheme has transformed cycling in Ireland.
As we all know, cycling is a great form of exercise and by cycling to work, you'll make sure you stay active and get good exercise every day without using up any more of your valuable time.
The bike to work initiative gives you the opportunity to sacrifice part of your salary in return for a bicycle and/or accessories. Under the scheme you don’t pay income tax, PRSI or Universal Social Charge of the price of the bicycle and/or accessories so you can save between 31% and 52% on the normal price (depending on your marginal tax rate).
Participating in the bike to work scheme couldn't be easier;
The employer simply pays for the bike and equipment up to the value of €1,000, and off you go. Your Employer will inform you how the payment will work exactly, whether they buy the bike outright or it operates under a "salary sacrifice" arrangement, but either way you save on tax! Simply set up an Allowable Deduction on Thesaurus Payroll Manager / Bright Pay to accommodate for the salary sacrifice.
The scheme is flexible in so far as your employer doesn't have to specifically notify the Revenue Commissioners that you're availing of the scheme and there are no Government forms to fill out. However, your employer does have to maintain the normal records such as invoices and payment details associated with buying the bike.
Introduced on 1st January 2009, this tax incentive scheme was designed to encourage more people to get on their bikes and cycle to work. And given the obvious rise of the number of cyclists on our roads, it’s easy to see that this incentive is definitely working.
You can find out more at http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/benefit-in-kind/faqs/cycle-work.html#cycle1
Bright Contracts – Employment contracts and handbooks
BrightPay – Payroll Software
Jul 2013
27
EMPLOYERS DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR EMPLOYEES WITH A SMALL BENEFIT TAX FREE?
Revenue Commissioner’s Approved Small Benefit Exemption Scheme:
Employers can provide employees with a small benefit (that is a benefit not exceeding €250); this small benefit is not subject to PAYE, USC or PRSI.
The following rules apply:
The small benefit is traditionally given as a voucher, as mentioned above only one such benefit can be given to an employee in one tax year. If for example an employee receives a €150 voucher in January and a €100 voucher in June only the €150 January voucher will qualify for exemption and the €100 voucher given in June will be subject to PAYE, USC & PRSI.
Where a benefit exceeds the value of €250 the full value is subject to PAYE, USC & PRSI. For example if a €260 voucher is given to an employee the full value should be included on payroll as a benefit in kind and therefore subjected to PAYE, USC & PRSI.
Any changes to the scheme will be included in the help file within Thesaurus Payroll Manager and also on the online BrightPay help file http://www.brightpay.ie/docs/2013/benefit-in-kind/one-off-benefits/
Bright Contracts – Employment contracts and handbooks
BrightPay – Payroll Software
Jul 2013
7
Up to now the classification for PRSI purposes, of directors of limited companies who work in that company (“proprietary directors”), has been determined on a case by case basis. This determination takes into consideration the Code of Practice for Determining the Employment or Self-employment Status of Individuals. (http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Code-of-Practice-for-determining-Employment-or-Self-Employme.aspx )
Under the provisions of Section 16 of the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 proprietary directors who own or control 50% or more of the shareholding of the company, either directly or indirectly, cannot be an employee of that company. This provision comes into effect from 1 July 2013.
In these circumstances the individual is classified as self-employed and is liable to pay PRSI at Class S.
The classification of proprietary directors who own or control less than 50% of the shareholding of the company will continue to be determined on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the Code of Practice for Determining the Employment or Self-employment Status of Individuals.
The new provision will apply to proprietary directors both prospectively and retrospectively.
Where these provisions are to be applied retrospectively, a person has the option of electing to have the decision, in relation to his or her employment prior to the enactment of the legislation, made under the Code of Practice for Determining the Employment or Self-employment Status of Individuals. Any decision will only apply to the period of employment prior to the enactment of the legislation.
Bright Contracts – Employment contracts and handbooks
BrightPay – Payroll Software