Last updated: 11 Mar 2024 01:00 Posted in:
HMRC is reminding employers that the National Living and Minimum Wage rates are increasing on 1 April 2024. Also, the National Living Wage will be extended to workers aged 21 and over (previously only for age 23 and over).
The new National Living Wage rates (from 1 April 2024) are:
Aged 21 and over: £11.44 per hour
· 18 to 20: £8.60
· Under 18: £6.40
· Apprentice: £6.40
HMRC said all employers should ensure that their workers are paid correctly, according to the new rates. Businesses can take these simple actions to meet their legal responsibilities and avoid falling foul of the law:
• identify which staff are due the new rate.
• update payroll and communicate the changes to staff as soon as possible.
• call the Acas helpline to get advice and support on paying workers correctly.
• visit the calculating the minimum wage guidance page to view practical advice.
In a letter to agents the tax authority said: “Even if you are paying your workers an hourly wage at or above the National Living or National Minimum Wage, you could still be underpaying them. This can easily happen when an employer makes wage deductions, counts tips towards pay, deducts costs of workwear or tools from pay, or doesn’t pay for all time worked.”
You can find out more by joining one of HMRC’s live webinars that are taking place throughout March, where a panel of experts will be on hand to answer questions.
REGISTER FOR WEBINAR“Even if you are paying your workers an hourly wage at or above the National Living or National Minimum Wage, you could still be underpaying them."
HMRC