Introduction to Newsletter 23.12.09

Written by Ian Congreave - Filed under: Editorials on December 23rd, 2009

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Some of the information that was made available immediately at the time of the Pre-Budget Report has now been made clear. The rates of SMP etc are increasing marginally from April but the rate of SSP is not changing. The regular annual changes to various employment law payments have also been announced – and some are going down. Not the rate of statutory redundancy pay, however, as that was increased last October and guaranteed not to go down if the statutory rules would otherwise have required a reduction.

There are several issues discussed this week that relate to salary sacrifice schemes and to whether or not the statutory conditions for the tax exemptions on which they rely are being met. Employers with schemes involving cycles and bus passes should review HMRC’s new guidance immediately. A similar caution, involving canteen meals, was considered in last week’s newsletter. There is, however, good news about childcare vouchers.

There will now be a two-week break in this newsletter service, with the next issue being distributed week commencing 11 January.

Written by Ian Congreave -

Filed under: Editorials on December 23rd, 2009