One month to go before new rules kick in for employment agencies

Employment agencies have until 5 August to make sure they are complying with new HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) rules.

New legislation, introduced in April 2015, requires businesses which supply two or more workers to a client without operating PAYE to report details of payments made to HMRC on a quarterly basis.

Ruth Owen, Director General Personal Tax, said:

“While the vast majority of employment intermediaries play by the rules, a minority try to avoid their legal obligation to pay the right Income Tax and National Insurance contributions.

“Some employment intermediaries have been helping people to claim they are self-employed when they are not. The new rules will help HMRC crack down on people trying to bend the rules.”

People who supply workers can check guidance to see if the new rules apply and whether they need to send in a quarterly return. The first quarter 06/04/2015 to 05/07/2015 needs to be submitted to HMRC by 5th August 2015 using HMRC's online services.

Notes to editors

1.Intermediaries required to make a return must register with HMRC online services.

2.The intermediary responsible for sending the report to HMRC should include:

3.Some employment intermediaries will not need to make a return, because they pass on workers’ details to a different intermediary, who goes on to supply the staff required. The intermediary who has the direct contract with the business client should make the return to HMRC.

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