Payroll guides
Plain-English explainers covering the whole UK payroll landscape: what payroll costs, how to outsource it well, and the rules behind every line of a payslip.
How to outsource payroll
A step-by-step guide to outsourcing payroll in the UK: when it makes sense, how to shortlist providers, what to put in the contract and how switching works.
GuideHow much does outsourcing payroll cost?
UK payroll outsourcing prices for 2026/27: per-employee monthly fees, setup charges, pension administration and the add-ons that inflate quotes.
GuideUK payroll software costs
What payroll software really costs in the UK: free HMRC tools, Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, BrightPay, Staffology and PayFit pricing compared.
GuideHow UK payroll works
The complete picture of UK payroll: PAYE, RTI submissions, deductions, payslips and the cycle every employer runs each pay period.
GuideUnderstanding your payslip
Every line of a UK payslip explained: gross pay, tax code, income tax, National Insurance, pension, student loan and net pay.
GuideTax codes explained
What UK tax codes like 1257L, BR, D0, K and S-prefix codes mean, how they set your tax-free pay and how to fix a wrong one.
GuideNational Insurance guide
UK National Insurance for 2026/27: employee Class 1 at 8% and 2%, employer NI at 15% above £5,000 and the £10,500 Employment Allowance.
GuideWorkplace pensions and auto-enrolment
Auto-enrolment explained: who qualifies, the 8% minimum contribution, qualifying earnings, opt-outs and what employers must do.
GuideStudent loan deductions guide
How student loans work through UK payroll: Plan 1, 2, 4 and 5 plus postgraduate loans, with 2026/27 thresholds and rates.
GuideStatutory pay guide
Statutory sick, maternity, paternity and family pay for 2026/27 – including the day-one SSP reforms – with rates and eligibility.
GuideMinimum wage guide
UK minimum wage from April 2026: £12.71 National Living Wage, age bands, the accommodation offset and common underpayment traps.
GuideRunning payroll as an employer
Everything a UK employer must do to run payroll: registering with HMRC, RTI, paying staff and HMRC, year-end and record keeping.
GuideIR35 and off-payroll working
IR35 explained for contractors and engagers: status tests, who decides, what changes payroll-wise and how umbrella arrangements fit in.