How quickly can AccTek take over my existing payroll?

For most businesses, AccTek can take over an existing payroll within one to two pay cycles. The HMRC PAYE scheme authorisation typically takes 7 to 14 days; employee records are migrated and a parallel run completed if needed.

Managed Payroll UK — RTI & Pensions

Q: Do I need to enrol my employees in a pension scheme?

Yes. All UK employers must auto-enrol eligible workers (aged 22 to State Pension age, earning over £10,000) into a qualifying workplace pension scheme. Minimum total contributions are 8% of qualifying earnings, with at least 3% from the employer and 5% from the employee.

What We Do

Payroll without the payroll headaches

From a single director on a tax-efficient salary to a growing team of 30, AccTek runs your payroll end-to-end. Real Time Information submissions to HMRC, auto-enrolment pension administration, payslips, statutory pay, leaver and joiner processing — all done, on time, every cycle.

For limited company directors, we layer salary optimisation on top — modelling the most tax-efficient split between salary, dividends and pension across the household.

Capabilities

Everything in one payroll service

No piecemeal add-ons. One fixed monthly fee covers the full payroll function.

RTI submissions to HMRC

Full Payment Submission (FPS) and Employer Payment Summary (EPS) filed with HMRC every pay run. RTI-compliant, on time, every cycle.

Payslips & reports

Branded digital payslips delivered to employees automatically. P60s, P45s, P11Ds and management reports produced as needed.

Auto-enrolment pensions

Pension scheme setup, employee assessment, contributions calculation and provider liaison — we handle the full workplace pension compliance burden.

Director salary optimisation

Tax-efficient salary modelling across salary, dividends, pension contributions and Employment Allowance — recalculated whenever rates change.

Statutory pay administration

SMP, SPP, SAP, SSP and SPBP all handled correctly, with HMRC reclaims processed where eligible. Holiday pay and benefit-in-kind reporting included.

Joiners & leavers

New starter onboarding, P45 issuance for leavers, year-end P60s and HMRC tax-code reconciliations — the full lifecycle, handled.

UK Payroll 2026/27

PAYE income tax and National Insurance rates

The rates and thresholds that govern every UK payroll, current for the 2026/27 tax year.

Income Tax bands (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)

Tax Year 2026/27

Band	Earnings range	Rate
Personal Allowance	Up to £12,570	0%
Basic rate	£12,571 – £50,270	20%
Higher rate	£50,271 – £125,140	40%
Additional rate	Over £125,140	45%

National Insurance Contributions

Tax Year 2026/27

Who pays	Threshold	Rate
Employee (Class 1 primary)	£12,570 – £50,270	8%
Employee (Class 1 primary)	Over £50,270	2%
Employer (Class 1 secondary)	Over £5,000 (Secondary Threshold)	15%
Employment Allowance	Annual relief for eligible employers	Up to £10,500

Scotland operates a different set of Income Tax bands. National Insurance rates are UK-wide. AccTek applies the correct regional Income Tax automatically based on each employee’s tax code.

For Limited Company Directors

Salary, dividends and pension — modelled together

If you’re a limited company director, the headline payroll bill is only half the picture. The real question is the most tax-efficient mix of salary, dividends and pension contributions across the household — balancing Corporation Tax, Income Tax, NIC and Employment Allowance.

AccTek models the full picture and reviews it whenever rates, thresholds or your earnings change. The right director salary is rarely a fixed number — it’s a moving target we keep on for you.

Book a Salary Review →

What we model

Your director remuneration plan

A full-picture review, refreshed at least annually and whenever circumstances change.

Optimal salary level (Secondary Threshold, Personal Allowance, or higher)
Dividend strategy and timing
Employer pension contributions for CT relief
Employment Allowance eligibility
Spousal salary or share strategies (where appropriate)

Workplace Pensions

Auto-enrolment, fully handled

Every UK employer with eligible staff must enrol them into a workplace pension. We administer the entire process — assessment, communication, contributions and re-enrolment.

Minimum Total

8%

Combined minimum auto-enrolment contribution: 3% employer + 5% employee (band earnings).

Eligible Workers

22+

Aged 22 to State Pension age, earning over £10,000 per year, working in the UK.

Re-enrolment

3 yrs

Every three years, eligible workers who opted out must be re-enrolled and reassessed.

How It Works

Your payroll cycle, run for you

01

Onboard

We set up your PAYE scheme with HMRC, configure Xero Payroll and onboard your existing team or first hire.

02

Confirm

Each pay run, you confirm hours, bonuses, expenses and any changes — via your portal or a quick email.

03

Process

We calculate, review, issue payslips, submit RTI to HMRC and lodge pension contributions with your provider.

04

Pay

You pay your team — we provide BACS files or banking-ready summaries. HMRC and pension payments scheduled.

FAQs

Payroll & PAYE — Common Questions

What is the most tax-efficient director salary for 2026/27?

For most single-director limited companies the most tax-efficient salary in 2026/27 sits between the Secondary Threshold (£5,000) and the Personal Allowance (£12,570). The exact level depends on whether you can claim Employment Allowance, whether you have other income, and how Corporation Tax and dividend tax interact for your circumstances. AccTek models the household-wide picture, not a generic rule.

What is RTI (Real Time Information)?

Real Time Information (RTI) is HMRC’s mandatory system for reporting PAYE. Every time you run payroll, an FPS (Full Payment Submission) is filed with HMRC reporting the pay and deductions for each employee. EPS (Employer Payment Summary) submissions follow when statutory pay is reclaimed or there’s no payroll in a period. AccTek files RTI on every pay run as part of the service.

What is the UK Employment Allowance in 2026/27?

The Employment Allowance lets eligible employers reduce their Class 1 employer NIC bill by up to £10,500 in 2026/27. The previous £100,000 prior-year liability cap has been removed, so eligibility is now wider. Sole-director companies with no other employees cannot claim. AccTek checks eligibility and claims it through your payroll software.

What are the employer National Insurance rates for 2026/27?

Employer National Insurance (Class 1 secondary) is charged at 15% on employee earnings above the Secondary Threshold of £5,000 per year. This rate increased from 13.8% in April 2025 and the secondary threshold was reduced from £9,100 at the same time. The Employment Allowance of up to £10,500 offsets this for eligible employers.

Do I need to enrol my employees in a pension scheme?

Yes — all UK employers must auto-enrol eligible workers (aged 22 to State Pension age, earning over £10,000) into a qualifying workplace pension scheme. Minimum total contributions are 8% of qualifying earnings, with at least 3% from the employer and 5% from the employee. AccTek sets up the scheme, assesses workers and runs the contributions as part of standard payroll.

How quickly can you take over my existing payroll?

For most businesses, AccTek can take over your existing payroll within one to two pay cycles. We obtain the HMRC PAYE scheme authorisation (typically 7–14 days), migrate employee records, parallel-run one cycle if needed, and then operate it fully going forward. There’s no disruption to your employees — payslips and payments continue uninterrupted.

Related Services

Managed Payroll UK
RTI, Pensions and Payslips. Sorted.

Payroll without the payroll headaches