Always agree a gross wage with your employee

employment costs - most read

“We have been extremely pleased with the service you have given us over the years and consider it to have been excellent value for money.”
Mrs C A – Whitchurch

Home

Employers

employment costs

always agree a gross wage

Always agree a gross wage with your employee

Employers often agree a net (i.e. take-home) wage with their employee, but in reality they are always paid a gross salary, with tax and National Insurance Contributions deducted and paid to HMRC on a quarterly basis by the employer. Although many employers tend to look on this as an additional cost, it is actually part of the employee's gross wage.

If you agree a fixed net wage you are committing yourself to paying all of your employee’s income tax and NI to make up their gross wage, irrespective of their individual tax code or tax position.

Please also be aware that a gross wage is not the total cost to you as an employer. In addition to this you have to pay an Employer’s National Insurance Contribution, which is not part of the employee’s gross wage. This extra sum will be advised to you when we send your first payslip for your employee.

employment guide

Can domestic staff be self-employed?

"Can't I just ask my employee to sort out their own tax?" this is a question we're frequently asked by potential employers. Whether someone is employed or self-employed depends on the terms and conditions of their work.

employment law

Employing European nationals

Most nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA) can enter and work in the UK without restrictions. You will need to ask nationals from all EEA countries to produce a document showing their nationality since their are specific restrictions for certain nationalities.