Archive for the ‘Sage’ Category

Payroll Budget Changes 2011

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

2.0 BUDGET SUMMARY 2011

The following are details of the Budget Statement of 7 December 2010, as made by the Minister for Finance.

 

2.1 Income Tax

 

2.11 Tax Credits

The tables below outline the position for 2010.

Tax Credits Tax Credit

2010 €

2011 €

Single Person

1,830

1,650

Married Person

3,660

3,300

PAYE Credit

1,830

1,650

Widowed Person (without dependant children)

2,430

2,190

One Parent Family Credit

1,830

1,650

Incapacitated Child Credit Max

3,660

3,300

Blind Tax Credit

Single Person

One Spouse Blind

Both Spouses Blind

1,830

1,830

3,660

1,650

1,650

3,300

Widowed Parent

Bereaved in 2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

-

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

3,600

3,150

2,700

2,250

1,800

-

Age Tax Credit

Single/Widowed

Married

325

650

245

490

Dependent Relative

80

70

Home Carer

900

810

 

Marginal Rate Reliefs

 

 Relief

(Allowed at the taxpayer’s top rate of tax)

2010

€ Max

2011

€ Max

Employing a Carer

50,000

No change

 

 

 Standard Rated Reliefs

(Allowed at 20% rate band)

 

 Trade Union Subscriptions

Relief for trade union subscriptions paid is being abolished for 2011 and subsequent years.

 

Service Charges

Relief on service charges remains unchanged. A maximum of €400 tax relief is granted (at 20% tax rate) in 2011 for service charges paid in the year 2010. This relief is being abolished for tax year 2010 and subsequent years.

 

Relief at 20% Tax Rate

Allowed in the Year

For Service Charges Paid in the Year

€400

€400

Nil

2010

2011

2012

2009

2010

2011

 

Rent Tax Relief

Relief for rent credit will be withdrawn on a phased basis over the next 7 years by reducing the amount of rent that can be relieved at the standard rate of income tax as indicated in the following table.

 

Tax Year

Single Under 55

Single Over 55

Widowed/ Married under 55

Widowed/ Married over 55

2010

2,000

4,000

4,000

8,000

2011

1,600

3,200

3,200

6,400

2012

1,200

2,400

2,400

4,800

2013

1,000

2,000

2,000

3,600

2014

800

1,600

1,600

3,200

2015

600

1,200

1,200

2,400

2016

400

800

800

1,600

2017

200

400

400

800

2018

0

0

0

0

 

Claimants who were not renting at 7 December 2010 and who subsequently enter into a rental agreement will not be able to claim relief.
2.12 Tax Rates and Tax Bands

 

The tax rates remain unchanged at 20% (standard rate) and 41% (higher rate).

 

The table below sets out the tax rates and bands.

Personal Circumstances

2010

2011

Single/Widowed without dependant children

36,400 @ 20%

Balance @ 41%

32,800 @ 20%

Balance @ 41%

Single/Widowed qualifying for One Parent Family Tax Credit

40,400 @ 20%

Balance @ 41%

36,800 @ 20%

Balance @ 41%

Married Couple one spouse with Income

45,400 @ 20%

Balance @ 41%

41,800 @ 20%

Balance @ 41%

Married Couple both spouses with Income

45,400 @ 20%

with increase of

27,400 max.

Balance @ 41%

41,800 @ 20%

with increase of

23,800 max.

Balance @ 41%

 

 

Exemption Limits

There is no change to the exemption limits for persons aged 65 years and over:

Personal Circumstances

2010

2011

Single/Widowed 65 years of age & over

20,000

18,000

Married Couple 65 years of age & over

40,000

36,000

 

Marginal Relief may apply, subject to an income limit of twice the relevant exemption limit.

 

The above exemption limits are increased by €575 for each of the first two dependent children and by €830 for the third and subsequent children.

 


Tax Relief at Source - Mortgage Interest Relief

The measures announced in Budget 2010 are unchanged:

 

Qualifying loans taken out before 1 July 2011 will continue to get relief for 7 years. Transitional measures will be provided for qualifying loans taken out between 1 July 2011 and the end of 2013.

 

Those whose entitlement to relief would, in the absence of this change, expire in 2010 or after, will continue to qualify for relief at the applicable rate up until the end of 2017. The relief will be abolished completely by the end of 2017.
2.13 Levies

UNIVERSAL SOCIAL CHARGE (USC)

The Universal Social Charge (USC), which comes into effect on 1 January 2011, is a tax payable on gross income, including notional pay, after any relief for certain capital allowances, but before pension contributions.

 

All individuals are liable to pay the Universal Social Charge if their gross income exceeds the threshold of €4004 per annum (€77 per week).

 

The rates and thresholds of the Universal Social Charge are as follows:

 

Individual aged under 70 years USC Income Thresholds

Per Year Per Week Per Month Rate
Up to €10,036.00 Up to €193.00 Up to €837.00 2%
From €10,036.01 to €16,016.00 inclusive From €193.01 to €308.00 inclusive From €837.01 to €1335.00 inclusive 4%
In excess of €16,016.00 In excess of €308.00 In excess of €1335.00 7%

 

Individual aged over 70 years USC Income Thresholds

Per Year Per Week Per Month Rate
Up to €10,036.00 Up to €193.00 Up to €837.00 2%
In excess of €10,036.00 In excess of €193.00 In excess of €837.00 4%

 

The Income Levy and Health Levy are abolished with effect from 1 January 2011.

 

The Health Levy used to be part of the PRSI calculations.

 

 

 

2.2 PRSI  CONTRIBUTIONS

 

 

 

Significant PRSI changes were announced in the December 2010 Budget. The following changes are effective from 1 January 2011:

 

•·         The employee PRSI ceiling of €75,036 is abolished. Employee PRSI is now payable (where appropriate) on all income

•·         The threshold for employee PRSI remains at €352 a week.

•·         Office holders will pay PRSI at a rate of 4% on all income, where their income is over €5,200 per annum. They should be returned at Class K.

•·         IMPORTANT: People with a nil liability, such as persons in receipt of occupational pensions should be returned at Class M.

•·         The Health Contribution has been abolished and will now be part of Universal Service Charge.

•·         In 2011, some subclasses (For example: AL and A1) feature identical rates. This reflects the removal of the Health Contribution charge from certain subclasses.

•·         As a result of this change, other subclasses, such as,A2, B2, C2, D2, H2, J2 and S2 no longer exist but they have been retained so that significant changes to payroll systems are not required in moving from 2010 to 2011.

•·         No need to change the PRSI subclass to account for the abolition of the Health Contribution. For example, those paying Subclass A1 in 2010 will continue to pay Subclass A1 in 2011 (assuming their wages remain the same).

•·         PRSI Classes B, C and D will pay PRSI at 0.9% below €1,443 per week and 4% above €1,443 per week.

•·         The Class S rate has increased from 3% to 4% and is payable only on annual income of €5,000 (previously applied to annual income of €3,174 or more). The minimum annual contribution for Class S remains at €253.

 

 

Employee PRSI on pension contributions

From 1 January 2011, employee contributions to occupational pension schemes and other pension arrangements will no longer be exempt from employee PRSI. Such contributions will also be subject to the Universal Social Charge which comes into effect on 1 January 2011.

 

Employers have to pay employer contributions in respect of half of these payments from Jan 1st 2011.

 

Civil and public servants will pay PRSI on the ‘Pension levy’ portion of their salaries.

 

Employer PRSI on pension contributions

Employer contributions to occupational pension schemes and other pension arrangements are exempt from employer PRSI which would otherwise apply at a rate of 10.75%.

 

Civil and public service employers do not have to pay any employer PRSI on the

‘Pension levy’.

 

Employee’s PRSI-Free Allowance

The PRSI-Free Allowance for employees in Classes A and H with weekly earnings of more than €352 remains at €127 a week and at €26 a week for all employees in Classes B, C and D.

 

For employees paid other than weekly, alternatives to the PRSI-Free Allowance are:

 


Classes A B,C,D
Fortnightly €254 €52
Monthly €551 €113


 

 

 

 

2.21 Earnings bands and subclasses

 

 

Subclasses

A0

A6, A8, B0, C0, D0 & H0

Weekly

€38 to € 352

€352 or below

Fortnightly

€76 (see note) to €704

€704 or below

Monthly

€165 (see note) to €1,525

€1,525 or below

Note: This threshold only applies to Class A employees, whose total earnings in each week of the fortnight or month are at least €38.

 

Subclass

AX

Weekly

€352.01 to €356

Fortnightly

€704.01 to €712

Monthly

€1,525.01 to €1,543

 

Subclass

AL

Weekly

€356.01 to €500

Fortnightly

€712.01 to €1,000

Monthly

€1,543.01 to €2,167

 

Subclasses

A7, BX, CX, DX and HX

A9

JO, M, and SO

Weekly

€352.01 to €500

greater than €352

€500 or below

Fortnightly

€704.01 to €1,000

greater than €704

€1,000 or below

Monthly

€1,525.01 to €2,167

greater than €1,525

€2,167 or below

 

Subclasses

A1, A2, A4 and A5

Weekly

over €500

Fortnightly

over €1,000

Monthly

over €2,167

 

 

PRSI Contribution Rates From 1 Jan 2011

Non Cumulative Weekly Earnings Band

PRSI Subclasses

How Much Of Weekly Earnings

EE %

ER %

EE+ER %

 

Private And Some Public Sector Employments

Up to €37.99

J0*

ALL

0.00

0.50

0.50

 

€38 - €352

AO

ALL

0.00

8.50

8.50

 

€352.01 - €356

AX

First €127

0.00

8.50

8.50

 

 

 

Balance

4.00

8.50

12.50

 

€356.01 - €500

AL

First €127

0.00

10.75

10.75

 

 

 

Balance

4.00

10.75

14.75

 

More than €500

A1

First €127

Balance

0.00

4.00

10.75

10.75

10.75

14.75

 

 

A2

First €127

0.00

10.75

10.75

 

 

 

Balance

4.00

10.75

14.75

 

Use the following subclasses (A6, A7, A4 and A5) only for approved Employees under the Employer’s PRSI Exemption Scheme.

Up to €352

A6

ALL

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

€352.01 - €500

A7

First €127

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

 

 

Balance

4.00

0.00

4.00

 

More than €500

A4

First €127

Balance

0.00

4.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

4.00

 

 

A5

First €127

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

 

 

Balance

4.00

0.00

4.00

 

Use the following subclasses for Community Employment participants.

Up to €352

A8

ALL

0.00

0.50

0.50

 

More than €352

A9

First €127

Balance

0.00

4.00

0.50

0.50

0.50

4.50

 
Class J normally relates to people with reckonable earnings of less than €38 per week (from all employments). However, the following employees are insurable at Class J, regardless of earnings: employees aged 66 or over and people in subsidiary employment.

Up to €500

J0

ALL

0.00

0.50

0.50

More than €500

J1

ALL

0.00

0.50

0.50

 

J2

ALL

0.00

0.50

0.50

FÁS Allowance

J9

ALL

0.00

0.50

0.50

Office Holders 

All Income

K1

First €100

Balance

0.00

4.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

4.00

Occupational Pensions 

ALL

M

ALL

0.00

0.00

0.00

Class M relates to people with a nil contribution liability (such as employees under age 16 and persons in receipt of occupational pensions).
                       

PRSI Contribution Rates From 1 Jan 2011

Non Cumulative Weekly Earnings Band

PRSI Subclasses

How Much Of Weekly Earnings

EE %

ER %

EE + ER%

Public Sector Employments 

Up to €352

B0

ALL

0.00

2.01

2.01

€352.01 - €500

BX

First €26

0.00

2.01

2.01

 

 

Balance

0.90

2.01

2.91

More than €500

B1

First €26

€26.01 to €1,443

Balance

0.00

0.90

4.00

2.01

2.01

2.01

2.01

2.91

6.01

 

B2

First €26

0.00

2.01

2.01

 

 

€26.01 to €1,443

Balance

0.90

4.00

2.01

2.01

2.91

6.01

           

Up to €352

C0

ALL

0.00

1.85

1.85

€352.01 - €500

CX

First €26

0.00

1.85

1.85

 

 

Balance

0.90

1.85

2.75

More than €500

C1

First €26

€26.01 to €1,443

Balance

0.00

0.90

4.00

1.85

1.85

1.85

1.85

2.75

5.85

 

C2

First €26

0.00

1.85

1.85

 

 

€26.01 to €1,443

Balance

0.90

4.00

1.85

1.85

2.75

5.85

           

Up to €352

D0

ALL

0.00

2.35

2.35

€352.01 - €500

DX

First €26

0.00

2.35

2.35

 

 

Balance

0.90

2.35

3.25

More than €500

D1

First €26

€26.01 to €1,443

Balance

0.00

0.90

4.00

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

3.25

6.35

 

D2

First €26

€26.01 to €1,443

Balance

0.00

0.90

4.00

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

3.25

6.35

         

Up to €352

H0

ALL

0.00

10.05

10.05

€352.01 - €500

HX

First €127Balance

0.00

3.90

10.05

10.05

10.05

13.95

More than €500

H1

First €127Balance

0.00

3.90

10.05

10.05

10.05

13.95

 

H2

First €127Balance

0.00

3.90

10.05

10.05

10.05

13.95

Self-Employed (On PAYE System Only)

Up to €500

S0

ALL

4.00

0.00

4.00

More than €500

S1

ALL

4.00

0.00

4.00

 

S2

ALL

4.00

0.00

4.00

               

 

 

Do I need a week 53 Pay Period? Sage Quickpay and Micropay

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Q. What is an extra pay period (week 53) ?

Week 53 occurs in a weekly payroll when there are 53 pay days in the tax year. There are normally 52 pay periods in a weekly payroll, but in some years the dates fall in a way that gives rise to an ‘extra’ pay period’.

An extra pay period can also occur in fortnightly and four-weekly pay frequencies:

Fortnightly payrolls normally have 26 pay periods, but can occasionally have 27.

Four-weekly payrolls normally have 13 pay periods, but can occasionally have 14.

Employees are entitled to tax credits for the extra pay period, but only on a Week 1 basis.

This means that the employee receives more than the year’s total tax credits. The Inspector of Taxes will take this into consideration when issuing the next year’s tax credits.

An employee receives an insurance week for the extra pay period only if they have not already received the maximum 52 insurance weeks. You need to enter this insurance week in the Timesheet Entry screen if necessary.

 

Q. Do I have an extra pay period?

After you have fully completed Week 52 (or Fortnight 26, or Four-Weekly Period 13), check the date on which the next payday occurs.

If the next payday falls on the 31st December, you have an extra pay period.

If the next payday occurs on or after the 1st January, you DO NOT have an extra pay period. This pay period must be processed as Period 1 of the new tax year.

Incorrect processing of an extra pay period may result in inaccurate returns for that tax year.

Only the date of payment (not the date of work) determines whether a pay period is ’extra’ in the current year. So if you have a pay date of 03/01/2011, this must be processed as Period 1 of 2011, regardless of when the actual work for this period was done.

 

Q. Should I run a week 53 over the christmas period?

Generally, the answer to this question is ’No’. You only run a Week 53 when there is an extra pay period to be processed in the tax year, regardless of any other circumstances.

 

Q. My employees are on holiday over the Christmas period. Should I run a Week 53 to ensure they get their holiday pay before their holiday begins?

If the pay date for the holiday week falls in January rather than December, the holiday week is not an extra pay period, and must be processed as a normal week in period 1 of the new tax year.

If Week 1 of the new year is a holiday week, and you still want to pay your employees for this week in advance of their holidays, carry out the following steps:

· complete the current tax year

· run the Payroll Year End in full

· set Period 1 of the new year

This can be done at any time after you have installed the Payroll Year End Update.

Income Levy Payroll Calculations

Friday, March 5th, 2010

As part of the payroll training courses that we offer, I am often asked for a quick summary  of what the income levy is all about so here goes!!. The information below refers to the 2010 payroll calculations. The training courses we offer in this area cover both manual and computerised (Sage Quickpay) skills.    

Income Levy Calculation

The levy is calculated based on the following bands of gross pay.

· Income up to €75,036 per annum - 2% levy

· Income between €75,037 and €174,980 per annum – 4% levy

· Income in excess of €174,980 per annum – 6% levy

 

Full medical card holders are exempt from the Income Levy as well as individuals aged 65 or over whose annual income does not exceed €20,000 per annum(p.a.).

 

Where the income exceeds the weekly minimum threshold of €289 the full income is subject to the income levy. Where the income levy has been applied for particular pay period(s) throughout the year but the minimum threshold of €15,028 p.a. has not been exceeded at week 52 then no liability to the income levy arises. In this situation and provided you were in continuous employment with an employer throughout the year in question (for the full 52 weeks) your employer should make an adjustment at week 52 and refund all income levy deducted. Where you have not been in continuous employment with an employer throughout the year in question Revenue, rather than the employer, will deal with any refund of income levy due.

 

The Income Levy is always calculated on a Week 1 / Month 1 Basis.

The income Levy is always calculated on Gross Pay. If you are paying pensions or A.V.C’s  which are tax allowable for the purposes of calculating income tax, the income levy is still calculated on the gross pay before any pension or A.V.C. deductions.    

Income Levy and Tax Return Forms

·         The income levy amount is included with the PAYE figure on the P30 return.

·         The income levy is also included with the PAYE figure on the P35 form.

·         At the end of the year, every employee still on the payroll requires both a P60 as well as end of year Income Levy Certificate. Employees who have left do NOT get either a P60 or an end of year Income Levy Certificate.

·         As employees leave, an Income levy cessation form as well as a P45 form is required to be completed by the employer. 

The breakdown of the income levy threshold figures are as follows:

 

Annual Threshold

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

4-Weekly

Bi-monthly

Quarterly

15,028

289

578

1,253

1,156

627

3,757

75,036

1,443

2,886

6,253

5,772

3,127

18,759

174,980

3,365

6,730

14,582

13,460

7,291

43,745

Over 65’s

20,000

385

770

1,667

1,539

834

5,000

 

 

HR, Employment Law, Business Studies, Marketing, Corporate Governance Courses now available in Kilkenny

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

From September of 2009, an expanded range of courses including Business Studies, Marketing, HR & Employment Law, Corporate Governance will be available from our centre in Kilkenny. Enrolments have already started.

These courses will be in addition to our popular range of Pitman Training Diplomas courses which enrol all year-round.

April 2009 Budget Changes - Impact for Payroll Calculations - Sage Payroll

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Details of Income Levy, Health Levy & PRSI Changes in Supplementary Budget 2009

Tax Rate Changes
In the short term the income tax rates remain unchanged, the standard rate being 20% and the higher rate is 41%.

Income Levy Doubled
In the Budget last December the Minister announced a new income levy which has applied since 1 January. However, the rates at which the income levy will apply going forward have been doubled and the relevant thresholds have been reduced. The exemption threshold for the income levy has also been reduced from €18,304 to €15,028. The revised rates and associated thresholds are shown below and the new rates will apply from 1 May 2009. If you exceed the income levy entry threshold of €289 weekly, the levy is applied to all of your earnings not just the amount in excess of the entry threshold.

• Income up to €75,036 (previously €100,100) the levy applies at 2%, previously at 1%.
• Income over €75,036 and up to €174,980 the levy applies at 4%, previously at 2%.
• Income over €174,980 (previously €250,120) the levy applies at a rate of 6%, previously 3%.

Health Contribution Levy Doubled
The Health Contribution Levy has also been doubled and the new 4% rate will apply on income up to €75,036. The higher rate levy of 5% (previously 2.5%) will apply to income over €75,036. These changes also take effect from 1 May 2009.The health Levy is calculated as part of the PRSI deduction. The health levy entry threshold remains unchanged at €500 weekly and €26,000 annually. If you earn under theses amounts, you are not liable to pay this levy and unlike the income levy, the levy is only applied to amounts in excess of the entry threshold.

Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI)
There had been speculation for some time that the employee ceiling for full rate PRSI payers would be abolished. However, the last Budget introduced an increase in the annual ceiling from €50,700 to €52,000, with the contribution rate unchanged at 4% for employees (excluding the levies) and 10.75% for employers. However, the
Minister now raises the employee PRSI ceiling up to €75,036. This increased PRSI cost for employees will take effect from 1 May 2009.

Implications for Sage Payoll Customers
Relax!. The required changes will be available as a download in plenty of time for the May payroll processing for both Sage Quickpay and Sage Micropay solutions. In the meantime, keep an eye on the www.genesisbusinesscollege.net/blog site for further updates. For details of how Sage Payroll solutions can help eliminate your payroll headaches, checkout www.genesisbusinesscollege.net. There is no time like the present!  

 

 

 

 DETAILS OF MAIN CHANGES

 

 

(Including Income Levy, Health levy & PRSI changes)

 

Existing (Yearly)

Proposed

(Yearly)

Existing Weekly

Proposed (Weekly)

Income Levy

 

Exemption Threshold (under 65)

€18,304

€15,028

€352

€289

Middle Rate Threshold

€100,100

€75,036

€1,925

€1,443

Higher Rate Threshold

€250,120

€174,980

€4,810

€3,365

Lower Rate

1%

2%

 

 

Middle Rate

2%

4%

 

 

Higher Rate

3%

6%

 

 

 

Existing

Proposed

 

 

Health levy

%

%

 

 

Lower Rate 

2.0%

4.0%

 

 

Higher Rate

2.5%

5.0%

 

 

Lower Rate Entry Threshold

€26,000

€26,000

€500

€500

Higher Rate Threshold

€100,100

€75,036

 

 

 

Existing

Proposed

 

 

PRSI

 

 

PRSI Ceiling

€52,000

€75,036

 

 

Sage Payroll Software - Budget 2009 Income Levy

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

What is the Income Levy?

The Income Levy introduced in Budget 2009 applies a supplementary tax amount to your gross income. The Levy amount is calculated BEFORE any relief amounts for capital allowances, losses or pension contributions.

Below, some basic questions about the Income Levy are answered.

For comprehensive information, refer to this official Revenue Commissioners document:

Income Levy: Notes for Guidance and Implementation Arrangements for Employers

 

When does the Levy apply?

The Levy applies from January 1, 2009.

 

Who must pay the Levy?

If you are under 65, and your gross income exceeds €18,304 per annum, you must pay the Levy on the full amount of your gross income.

If you are over 65, and your gross income exceeds €20,000, you must pay the levy on the full amount of your gross income. Alternatively, if you are assessed as a married couple over 65, and your combined gross income exceeds €40,000, you must pay the Levy on the full amount of your gross income.

If your gross income is less than the above amounts, you are exempt from the Levy.

You are also exempt from the Levy if you hold a medical card.

 

Is any income exempt from the Levy?

Important examples of the types of income exempt from the Levy include the following:

·         If your annual gross income is less than €18,304, you don’t have to pay the Levy.

·         Social Welfare payments, including those received from abroad, are exempt.

·         Income in lieu of Social Welfare payments, such as Community Employment Scheme payments or the Back to Education Allowance, are exempt.

·         Income subject to Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) is exempt.

 

What are the Levy rates?

Income Thresholds

Income Levy Rate

Income up to, but not exceeding, €18,304 per annum

Exempt from the Income Levy.

Gross Income between €18,304 and €100,100 per annum

If your annual gross income exceeds €18,304, a rate of 1% is applied to the portion of your annual gross income up to €100,100, INCLUDING the first €18,304.

Gross Income between €100,101 and €250,120 per annum

If your annual gross income exceeds €100,000, a rate of 2% is applied to the portion between €100,101 and €250,120.

Gross Income exceeding €250,120

If your annual gross income exceeds €250,120, a rate of 3% is applied to the portion greater than €250,120.