Scotland vs. UK Payroll - Q&A with Simon Parsons

As with the introduction of the Scottish Rate of Income Tax (SRIT), additional legislative changes in relation to the expansion of Scottish Tax Raising powers will be incorporated as part of annual legislative update. The implementation of SRIT is present in SD Worx payroll solutions now. In addition, the SD Worx payroll engine development has gone beyond the basic SRIT base requirements. Separate tax calculations are already present which support future parallel process Scottish taxation calculation which is ready to accept differing tax bands and earnings threshold. Although SRIT is identical in law to the rest of the UK, the SD Worx solution already holds the relevant control parameters to allow seperation. SD Worx experts form part of the consultation and working groups with HMRC in the development of such policy and have strong ties with BCS Payroll, CIPP, IReeN as well as having representation with government working groups.

SD Worx has a payroll engine for Scotland already and has a strong and growing business presence. If devolved powers introduces steps to separate out tax and Social Insurance etc. further, then similar principles as apply to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man are available as options if required i.e. Calculations will be introduced to cater for the relevant fiscal authority. If future separation were potentially significant (i.e. the ending of cross border payroll operations), then a separate Scottish Fiscal marker would be considered. If it came to that point then a Scottish Payroll would be entirely separate to the rest of the UK payroll but yet supported on the same SD Worx solution. Presently Scottish Residents and Scottish parliamentarians (no matter where resident) are marked by a ‘Tax Regime’ indicator of ‘S’ by HM Revenue & Customs – this data is part of the SD Worx solution as standard already.

The same principles and planning undertaken previously if the UK were to go into the Euro still apply. If and when detail of the transition is known, then development would be undertaken to apply the transfer with the operation of the fixed exchange rate between Scottish Sterling and Euro. Consideration to the change of payment method in the UK may also need to be considered and the continuance of the use of the UK BACS capability.

A pragmatic approach of enhancement if, as and when the transition were to occur over a period of years would be used. SD Worx UK has a long legacy of successful implementation of such change into its SD Worx Payroll Solution. Whether a different commercial structure would be required as the service separates and alternate currencies are applied, and different related services are introduced (such as a Scottish Bank clearing systems) is something that would require consideration as and when change is considered, progressed and applied.

SD Worx is a strong payroll solutions partner for businesses in Scotland.

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