How to configure government payroll settings

Summary

Government Parameters are set up at installation and these settings can be considered correct. There maybe instances were a change is required by a government legislation change if so follow the instructions below to do so.

WARNING: You should not attempt to change these settings unless otherwise instructed.

If you are prompted to [Accept] upon exiting a Government Parameter, unless you have been advised to make changes, always change <A> -Accept to <I> - Ignore before Press <Enter>. This prevents the system saving any changes made by accident. Some Government Parameters will automatically store changes and will not prompt you to Accept or Ignore upon exiting the option.

Therefore it is advised you do not edit any fields unless you have received prior notice to do so.

NI Bands

These settings allow you to View/Amend National Insurance Rate Tables. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

The settings on this screen should not be changed without prior notification to do so as any changes made are effective immediately.

Tax Bands

These settings allow you to View/Amend Tax Band Tables. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

The settings on this screen should not be changed without prior notification to do so as any changes made are effective immediately.

SSP Parameters

These settings allow you to View/Amend default SSP Qualifying Days, Waiting Days, PIW Links and SSP Rates. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

The following fields should not be edited by yourself. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update. Any modifications made will be effective immediately and may be overwritten the next time you receive a Platinum software update:

• Waiting Days
• Maximum SSP
• SSP Link
• SSP Rates

The following fields may be edited by yourself. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update. Any modifications made will be effective immediately will not be overwritten by a Platinum Software program update:

• Default Qualifying Days
• NIC Compensation Rate
• Reclaim Percentage Threshold

Default Qualifying Days

This is a weekly template, indicating which days qualify for Sick Pay.

Enter 'Q' to indicate a Qualifying Day Enter 'N' to indicate a Non-Qualifying Day

This template is the default which will appear on Page 3: SSP & SMP of the employee's record. The default can be changed for individuals by editing their employee record.

WARNING: If you change the template in here, it will not affect existing employee records. It will be the default template used when new employee records are created.

NIC Compensation Rate

Enter the SSP National Insurance Contribution Compensation Rate.

Reclaim Percentage Threshold

Enter the SSP Reclaim Percentage Threshold.

SMP/SAP/SPP Parameters

These settings allow you to View/Amend SMP/SAP/SPP Rates, number of Weeks at Higher & Lower Rates and Percentage to Reclaim. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

The following fields should not be edited by yourself. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update. Any modifications made will be effective immediately and may be overwritten the next time you receive a Platinum software update:

• Earnings Related Rate
• Standard Rate
• Weeks at Earnings Rate
• weeks at Standard Rate

SMP/SAP/SPP Recovery

The following fields may be edited by yourself. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update. Any modifications made will be effective immediately will not be overwritten by a Platinum Software program update:

• Recovery Rate
• Compensation Rate

Recovery Rate

This refers to the percentage to reclaim. Enter the percentage of SMP/SAP/SPP paid that you may reclaim.

Compensation Rate

This refers to the NIC compensation rate. Enter the SMP/SAP/SPP National Insurance Contribution Compensation Rate.

Contracted Out Parameters

These settings allow you to View/Amend Money Purchase and Salary Related Scheme Parameters, number of Weeks at Higher & Lower Rates and Percentage to Reclaim. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

Money Purchase Schemes (COMPS)

"Employee's Share" - Enter the Percentage Contracted Out for the Employee. "Employer's Share" - Enter the Percentage Contracted Out for the Employer.

For Salary Related Pension Schemes: "Employee's Share" - Enter the Percentage Contracted Out for the Employee. "Employer's Share" - Enter the Percentage Contracted Out for the Employer.

Scottish Tax Bands

These settings allow you to View/Amend Tax Band Upper Limits and Rates, number of Weeks at Higher & Lower Rates and Percentage to Reclaim. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

The settings on this screen should not be changed without prior notification to do so as any changes made are effective immediately.

Student Loan Parameters

These settings allow you to View/Amend the Threshold and Recovery Rates for the Collection of Student Loans., number of Weeks at Higher & Lower Rates and Percentage to Reclaim. However these only generally change at the beginning of a Payroll Tax year and this is done by the system as part of the payroll year end software update.

The settings on this screen should not be changed without prior notification to do so as any changes made are effective immediately.

See also

• How do I Add a New Employee to the Payroll?

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Keywords AND Misspellings

govenment, parameters, params