SIMCO Payroll & HR Services

03/09/2026

Rates & Numbers (a quick reference)

💷 April 2026 Payroll Rates At A Glance

🔹 National Living Wage (21+) → £12.71 / hr
🔹 18–20 → £10.85 / hr
🔹 Under 18 / Apprentice → £8.00 / hr
🔹 Employee NI → 8% (£242–£967/wk), 2% above
🔹 Employer NI → 15% above £96/wk
🔹 Personal Allowance → £12,570
🔹 SSP → £123.25/wk (Day 1 payable)
🔹 Pension auto-enrolment → min 8% total (3% employer / 5% employee)

Tax codes: 1257L remains the standard emergency code for 2026/27.

Need help staying compliant? www.simco.business

SIMCO, Leader in Payroll, HR, Pensions Auto- Enrolment Making Tax Digital, Administration Service covering Northern Ireland & UK. Providing cost-effective Payroll Solutions to the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland

03/09/2026

🤒 Statutory Sick Pay BIG changes from April 2026!

Three key reforms affecting every NI & UK employer:

🔹 No more 3-day wait → SSP payable from first qualifying day of absence

🔹 Removed earnings threshold, more employees qualify, regardless of pay

🔹 Rate increased → £123.25 per week (up from £118.75)
Plus: Parental Bereavement Pay in NI is now a day-one right with no minimum earnings requirement, unique to Northern Ireland.

Are your payroll systems updated? Let us handle it for you

SIMCO, Leader in Payroll, HR, Pensions Auto- Enrolment Making Tax Digital, Administration Service covering Northern Ireland & UK. Providing cost-effective Payroll Solutions to the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland

25/08/2026

20 Payroll Risks Every Employer Should Know
Is your payroll exposing your business to unnecessary risk?

Payroll is much more than calculating wages and paying employees. It involves HMRC compliance, pensions, employment legislation, statutory payments, confidential data and strict deadlines.

A small payroll error can quickly become a financial, compliance or employee-relations issue.

The 20 key risks
HMRC Reporting Errors
Incorrect or incomplete PAYE submissions can result in corrections, penalties and unnecessary administration.

Incorrect Tax Codes
Using an incorrect tax code can cause employees to pay too much or too little tax.

National Insurance Errors
Incorrect NI categories or calculations can create discrepancies with HMRC.

PAYE Payments
Incorrect or late payments to HMRC can result in interest, penalties and reconciliation issues.

Auto-Enrolment Compliance
Employees must be assessed and enrolled correctly where applicable.

Pension Contributions
Incorrect contribution calculations or payment dates can create regulatory and employee issues.

National Minimum Wage
Incorrect rates, hours, deductions or pay calculations can lead to significant arrears and penalties.

Holiday Pay
Holiday entitlement and pay can be particularly complex for employees working overtime, irregular hours or varying patterns.

Statutory Sick Pay
Eligibility, waiting days and payment calculations must be handled correctly.

Maternity, Paternity & Other Statutory Payments
Incorrect calculations can lead to employee underpayments and compliance corrections.

Student Loan Deductions
Incorrect or missed deductions can create problems for both the employee and the relevant authority.

Attachment of Earnings Orders
Court, DWP and other statutory deductions must be processed accurately and on time.

Starter & Leaver Processing
Incorrect starter information, final pay or P45 details can create tax and employee issues.

Payroll Deadlines
Missing payroll, HMRC, pension or other statutory deadlines can create avoidable costs and disruption.

Benefits & Expenses
Benefits in kind and taxable expenses require correct payroll treatment and reporting.

Payroll Data Security
Payroll contains highly confidential personal, banking and financial information and must be securely managed.

Cyber & Fraud Risk
Weak controls over payroll files, bank details or payment processes can expose a business to fraud.

Key-Person Dependency
What happens if the person who normally processes your payroll is unavailable, leaves or goes on holiday?

Lack of Specialist Knowledge
Payroll legislation and rates change regularly. Keeping up can be difficult for someone who only processes payroll occasionally.

Management Time
Investigating payroll problems, responding to employee queries and dealing with HMRC can take valuable time away from running your business.

Reduce the risk. Outsource your payroll.

Outsourcing payroll isn't simply about saving administration time. It gives your business access to specialist payroll knowledge, established processes and regular checks, helping reduce the risk of costly errors and missed deadlines.

SIMCO Payroll Services can help with:
Payroll processing
HMRC RTI submissions
PAYE & National Insurance calculations
Workplace pension administration
Auto-enrolment support
Statutory payments
Holiday pay calculations
Starter and leaver processing
Payroll reconciliations
Payroll reports and payslips
Year-end payroll requirements
Ongoing payroll support
Let us handle the payroll. You handle the business.

SIMCO Business
Professional Payroll Services for Northern Ireland Businesses

Contact: [email protected]
Web: www.simco.business

SIMCO Payroll handled professionally.

05/03/2026

04/03/2026

😅 Doing Payroll at 10pm with a Cup of Tea Gone Cold?

Be honest…

You didn’t start your business to:
❌ Worry about CIS deductions
❌ Chase subcontractors for UTR numbers
❌ Panic over pension letters
❌ Double-check wages at the kitchen table
❌ Google “HMRC penalty what happens now”

Sure you didn’t.

Running a business in Northern Ireland is hard enough without payroll & compliance keeping you awake at night.
That’s where SIMCO Business steps in.

👥 We Support Businesses Across NI Including:
🔨 Construction Companies & Subcontractors
🧸 Nurseries & Playgroups
🏥 Care & Domiciliary Providers
🐾 Veterinary Practices
🔧 Mechanics & Garages
📈 Marketing & Creative Agencies
✈ Travel Agents
🏦 Pension & Financial Services Firms
👔 Owner-Managed Businesses
💼 Directors (tax-efficient salary support)
🏢 SMEs of all sizes
If you’ve staff to pay, we’ve you covered.

🔨 CIS Specialists, We Know Construction
If you’re in construction, we handle:
✔ Subcontractor verification
✔ Correct CIS deductions
✔ Monthly CIS returns
✔ HMRC submissions
✔ Weekly wage runs

No drama. No surprises. Just sorted.

💼 What You Get With SIMCO:

✅ Accurate, on-time payroll
✅ CIS fully managed
✅ Workplace pensions & auto-enrolment
✅ GDPR-compliant employer & employee portal (FREE)
✅ 24/7 cloud access
✅ Direct HMRC liaison
✅ Transparent, professional service

No call centres.
No being left waiting days for a reply.
Just real people, proper support, and straight answers.
Imagine payroll just… being done.
No stress. No chasing. No second-guessing.

Sure, that would be handy, wouldn’t it?

📩 Send us a message
📧 [email protected]
📞 028 2844 0713
🌐 www.simco.business

SIMCO Business, Payroll Done Properly.

🔄 Thinking of Changing Payroll Provider?

If you’re not getting the service you deserve…
If replies take days…
If you’re double-checking their work…
Or if you’ve simply outgrown your current provider…
It might be time.

✅ Thinking of Switching? it's straightforward, and we handle the process for you from start to finish.

No awkwardness.
No disruption to your staff.
No payroll gaps.

Just a smoother, more reliable service from day one.

04/03/2026

🌟 Struggling with Payroll, Pensions & HR Admin? Let SIMCO Help! 🌟

Running a business is tough enough, payroll and HR shouldn’t slow you down. With SIMCO Business, you get:

✅ Seamless Payroll Outsourcing
✅ GDPR-Compliant HR & Employer/Employee Portal
✅ Workplace Pension & Auto-Enrolment Support
✅ Tailored Solutions to Suit YOUR Business
✅ 24/7 Access via Cloud Portal
✅ Time & Cost Savings for You

We’re your trusted partner in Northern Ireland, delivering experienced, efficient support so you can focus on what you do best.

📣 Let SIMCO be an extension of your team, professional, reliable, and transparent.

👉 Get in touch today: [email protected]
📞 Call us: 028 2844 0713
💻 Learn more:

SIMCO, Leader in Payroll, HR, Pensions Auto- Enrolment Making Tax Digital, Administration Service covering Northern Ireland & UK. Providing cost-effective Payroll Solutions to the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland

12/08/2025

Unlock Hassle-Free HR & Payroll with SIMCO Business!

At SIMCO, we believe that running a business should be about growth, not paperwork. Our Outsourcing Perfection approach means we handle all the heavy lifting, from payroll and HR to pensions, auto-enrolment, and Making Tax Digital (MTD), so you don’t have to.

www.simco.business

What makes us stand out:

UK-based experts accredited with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), ensuring top-tier service and continuous professional development.

A free, GDPR-compliant cloud portal for employers and employees—manage leave, payslips, contracts, and more anytime, anywhere.

Seamless API integration with your accounting software, saving you time and eliminating manual data entry.

A partnership approach tailored to your business needs, as reflected in our valuable resources and expert support.

Imagine freeing up your time, reducing compliance stress, and empowering your team—all while cutting costs. That’s exactly what SIMCO delivers.

Ready to streamline your HR and payroll?

👉 Visit our Resources page for helpful tools and guidance.
Or simply message us to explore how SIMCO can become your trusted partner

SIMCO, Leader in Payroll, HR, Pensions Auto- Enrolment Making Tax Digital, Administration Service covering Northern Ireland & UK. Providing cost-effective Payroll Solutions to the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland

20/05/2025

Employment Allowance

The Employment Allowance (EA) will be increased from £5000 in 2024-25 to a new maximum level of £10,500 in 2025-26.

Also, the restriction which meant that employers with a NIC liability of more than £100,000 in the tax year immediately prior to the year were unable to claim the EA has been removed.

The GOV.UK web page Changes to the Class 1 National Insurance Contributions Secondary Threshold, the Secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions rate, and the Employment Allowance from 6 April 2025 – GOV.UK gives further information.

20/05/2025

Income tax rates and thresholds for 2025-26

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

The standard employee personal allowance for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is:

£242 per week
£1,048 per month
£12,570 per year

Tax rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland remain frozen at 2024-25 levels. The rates for 2025-26 are as follows:

Tax rates above Personal Allowance:
Basic tax rate 20% Up to £37,700
Higher tax rate 40% From £37,701 to £125,140
Additional tax rate 45% Above £125,140

Scotland
The standard employee personal allowance for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is:

£242 per week
£1,048 per month
£12,570 per year

The bands to which the various Scottish Tax rates apply have been changed slightly from 2024-25. The rates for 2025-26 are as follows:

Tax rates above Personal Allowance:
Starter tax rate 19% Up to £2,827
Basic tax rate 20% From £2,828 to £14,921
Intermediate tax rate 21% From £14,922 to £31,092
Higher tax rate 42% From £31,093 to £62,430
Advanced tax rate 45% From £62,431 to £125,140
Top tax rate 48% Above £125,140

National Insurance Contributions
The rates and thresholds for the calculation of employee (primary) NIC remain unchanged from 2024-25, although the ‘Lower Earnings Limit’ (LEL) has increased slightly to £125/week.

There has been a major change to employers’ (secondary) NIC, with the Secondary Threshold (ST) being reduced from £175 /week to £96 /week. The rate of employers’ NIC has also been raised from 13.8% in 2024-25 to 15.0% in 2025-26.

The table below shows the National Insurance bands for 2025-26.

(LEL) (PT) (ST) (UEL)
Weekly 125 242 96 967
2-Weekly 250 484 193 1,934
4-Weekly 500 967 385 3,867
Monthly 542 1,048 417 4,189
Directors Annual 6,500 12,570 5,000 50,270

These changes mean that many employers may see an increase in the amount of employer NICs due to HMRC in each tax period from April 2025