Guidance surrounding a ‘key facts page’ for agency workers published by HMRC

10 October 2019

GOV.UK have released information pertaining to the new requirement for employers to present agency workers with a ‘key information document’ prior to agreeing terms. This requirement will be implemented from the start of the new tax year and has been stipulated in the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. There will be no obligation for agency workers that have a pre-existing contract prior to 6 April 2020 to receive the ‘key information document’ but any new appointments will have to adhere to the upcoming legislation.

 

The purpose of the document is to ensure further clarity for agency workers in terms of what pay they can expect to receive and what deductions will be applied to eventually arrive at their take-home pay figure. The intention is that they will have access to this information prior to entering into any binding agreements. For statutory deductions, the acknowledgement that they will be taken is sufficient but for non-statutory deduction elements, such as the fee for working via an umbrella company, either fixed figures should be provided or alternatively, the calculation that will be used to arrive at the relevant figure. If the worker is employed via an umbrella company, the ‘key information document’ must be provided to both the worker and to the intermediary.

 

The publication expands on the points above in much further detail, and is divided into seven sections as follows:

 

  • Format, timing and frequency of key information documents
  • Information to include for a standard employment business – agency worker relationship (i.e. PAYE)
  • When additional information is required for the key information document
  • Information to include when an intermediary or umbrella company is involved
  • Key information documents for workers signing on as personal service companies
  • Changes to key information documents
  • Enforcement of the new regulation

There are also templates to assist employers with the new process, which cover a range of scenarios.

 

 

CIPP Comment

 The policy team always welcome member feedback and would particularly welcome any comments that you might have about the impact of the new legislation outlined above and any challenges that it may pose. Please email policy with any thoughts you may have. Thank you.

 


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