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Umbrella Company Pension Schemes – What You Need to Know

Pension schemes help employees put money aside for retirement directly from their wage. The problem for self-employed professionals is that they need to manage this themselves,either by setting up a pension scheme or saving money from their income.

Fortunately,umbrella companies class contractors as employees,giving them all the benefits of employment. That includes a pension scheme,which now requires contribution from the umbrella company too. Let’s take a closer look at the statutory pension schemes available through umbrella companies.

Auto-enrolment pensions

In 2012,the UK Government decided that workers weren’t saving enough for their retirement. People were relying too much on the State Pension,which had not received adequate funding to match the continuing rise in life expectancy and an ageing population.

To combat this,they introduced automatic enrolment. The new system,rolled out from 2012 to 2018,requires employers to automatically enrol eligible employees onto a workplace pension scheme. Employers are also responsible for deducting contributions from their pre-tax income and making a minimum statutory contribution to the employee’s savings.

In October 2012,this minimum contribution was set to 1 percent for employees,which was matched by employers,rising in 2018:

• October 2012 to 5th April 2018: employers 1%,employees 1%
• 6th April 2018 to 5th April 2019: employers 2%,employees 3%
• 6th April 2019 onwards: employers 3%,employees 5%

However for anyone that doesn’t want to contribute to a pension once you’re enrolled you can still opt out.

Umbrella company pension scheme

Working through an umbrella company,contractors are classed as an employee. That means,yes,you are automatically enrolled onto the umbrella company’s pension scheme as long as you meet the following criteria:

• Your work is primarily UK-based
• You earn more than £10,000 per year
• You’re between 22 and the state pension age.

Until 5th April 2019,3% of your pre-tax salary will go directly into a pension fund,with the umbrella company contributing a further 2%. From 6th April 2019,5% of your pre-tax salary will go into the same pension fund,with your umbrella company contributing a further 3%.

The benefits of an umbrella company pension

Some contractors may worry that this will eat away at their wages. Don’t. Pension contributions are made before your wages are taxed. That means anything that goes from your wage into your pension fund is tax-free rather than being taxed at 20% or even 40%. So,instead of receiving 60% of your income,you receive 100% via a pension fund.

Let’s say you earn over £46,351 per year,which puts you in the higher rate band of income tax. Anything you earn beyond that £46,351 per year (roughly £3,863 per month) is taxed at a rate of 40%. You get just £60 for every £100 of income. Why not put the full £100 straight into the pension fund instead?

That’s why many people,especially those in the higher rate band of income tax,choose to put more than the minimum into their pension fund. And this is entirely possible. Contractors can contribute up to £40,000 to their pension scheme per year,comprising tax-free income and employer contributions. Currently,there is a lifetime allowance of £1,030,000 which can be contributed before incurring any tax.

Using your funds

With the increased earnings of contracting,it’s common for contractors to retire early. Alternatively,you might simply want to get some of the money out for a holiday,new car or home improvement. The good news is: you don’t have to wait until the state pension age to access the pension funds you’ve built up through your umbrella company pension.

Once you’re 55 or over,you can access up to 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum. Anything beyond the 25% will be taxed as an addition to the rest of your income that tax year – either 20% over £11,850,40% over £46,351 or £45% over £150,000,as things currently stand. That’s why most people choose to take their pension as regular income once they have retired,to minimise the amount of tax paid.

What about limited companies?

Contractors who operate as a limited company can still benefit from the tax relief of a pension scheme. However,as with most things relating to limited companies,this requires a lot more effort on their part. Firstly,they have to get the right balance between salary and dividend payments to increase the limit on their pension contributions.

Because employer contributions,such as pensions,count as a business expense,they are subject to tax relief. So,when you contribute to your pension scheme,as a director,the company could save money in corporation tax.

However,this has added complications because it needs to be fully compliant as an allowable expense. Any other employees,for example,should be given comparable packages to prove to HMRC that it is a genuine business expense.

On top of all that,using a limited company pension scheme means setting up and paying into the pension fund yourself. Along with all the other administrative work for limited company owners,it’s definitely worth seeking advice and assistant from a trusted accountant.

Get the right assistance

Whether you’re looking to compare umbrella companies or find the right accountant,you can make the right choice with -. Our online comparison tool lets you assess multiple companies in a matter of minutes. It couldn’t be easier to take the hassle out of contracting. Contact us today for more information.

Every year an average of 343 people die during the Christmas holiday due to unsafe driving. It’s also the busiest time of the year for traffic injury lawyers. Whether it’s going over the recommended speed limit,weather-related accidents or other circumstances,there are ways to avoid car accidents during the holiday season. Here is a list of ways you can learn how to drive safely during the holiday season.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

During the holidays,you can expect an increase in traffic. Traffic increases due to people shopping,traveling to family and many other reasons. Whatever the reason,you need to be aware of your surroundings. Depending on where you live,you may see some deer or other animals. This can be a safety hazard to not only you but to other drivers as well. It’s always best to drive the recommended speed limit and be cautious when coming near wooded areas or open fields. You should also be aware of other drivers and if they’re turning,passing you in the next lane or driving recklessly. If you spot a reckless driver,try to stay away and call 911.

Prepare for Any Situation

If you’re like me,bad luck strikes at the worst time. Be prepared for any kind of situation such as injuries,flat tire or even a dead battery. It’s recommended by doctors to always keep an emergency first aid kit in your car for any sort of situation. As for a flat tire,make sure you have a spare with you as well as something that can help you fix a flat tire if the hole is small enough. If you experience a dead battery,it’s always a great idea to make sure you have jumper cables or even a small machine that will help you start your vehicle up without needed another vehicle. It’s highly recommended that you make sure your car is up to date on any repairs needed before traveling.

Avoid Any Distractions

According to recent studies,over 1.6 million accidents are caused by texting and driving. You don’t want to need to hire a car accident attorney so never look at your phone while driving! Always pull over or wait until you get to your destination to text or call back. Children can also become distractions for parents while driving,so you should plan ahead of time for situations such as the kids being cold,hungry or thirsty. Pullover frequently for leg stretching and bathroom breaks to avoid any bathroom accidents.

Watch For Weather Warnings

Although it may vary for different cities and states,weather plays a huge role in collisions during holidays. Before planning any trips to see family or go shopping,check your local weather forecast to determine if it is safe enough to go out or prepare for traveling. If it snows,you should prepare for slick roads and black ice. Bring warm blankets,a windshield ice scraper and other emergency items in case you get stuck. If it rains,it’s best to make sure you drive slowly as well as try to be aware of other drivers and for flooded areas.

Do you really need an emergency plumber? If you are building a swimming pool,you probably don’t,but if the inside of your house starts to imitate a swimming pool,you most probably do.

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There are undoubtedly jobs that require the services of a licensed plumber,such as when your toilet backs up into your tubs and sinks,or when you require putting in a new pipe line. However,there are jobs that require not just any plumber but an emergency plumber,such as when water uncontrollably runs out of your faucet and toilets starts flooding the house. However,they are at a premium. How do you know if there is a need for their services or not?

Do You Really Need An Emergency Plumber?

Before contacting any plumber,you would need to turn off the water supply,or if possible the waterline that supplies the fixture. This will prevent any further water damage. This would also most likely stop the flow of water. Once you’ve stopped the water flow,assess the situation. If the problem is an overflowing toilet,you will be all right until the morning,as long as you don’t flush. You could also wait in the morning if you will be able to find alternatives,such as using the kitchen sink instead of the bathroom sink. You can then avoid paying for premium for calling in a 24-hour plumber during the night hours,or during holidays or weekend.

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Calling an Emergency Plumber

However,if after turning off the water and assessing the situation,and your plumbing crisis cannot be put off,be prepared before calling an emergency plumber and have some information and questions readily available when you get hold of one.

Before calling the plumber’s number,try to identify the problems as closely as you can. The more specific and more details you can provide,the better they will be able to gauge the emergency and estimate the cost of repair.

It is also a good idea to call several plumber’s numbers if you do not yet have a licensed plumber of choice. You will be able to get several quotes of service call fees as there could sometimes be significant difference in prices.

Also ask for a quote for the service call. Some will charge for simply coming to your house,even if they would not be doing any repairs then. Make sure to ask for this amount ahead of time,and not be surprised by it in your bill.

Ask for an estimate for the total cost of repairs. Some 24-hour plumbers will not want to give an estimate over the phone,and would want to personally assess the plumbing situation first. But you may be able to get a rough estimate and an idea of the price if you come well-informed about the plumbing emergency. Picture out the scenario to your emergency plumber and ask for the usual or average cost of repair.

If you are calling an emergency service,always ask for the emergency plumber to call you first,so that you will be able to talk to the plumber personally and get a better estimate of cost.

So for the time when you wake up at night and the house starts to be like an indoor pool,don’t panic. Stop the water flow,assess the situation,and if it is an plumbing crisis that need immediate action,call an emergency plumber to come out to your house.Payless Plumbing Fort Lauderdale