Auto Enrolment Services
What is Auto Enrolment?
Auto Enrolment is all about pensions – compulsory workplace pensions. All employers must enrol all eligible staff into a qualifying pension scheme. Eligible staff and/or their employer must contribute to the pension scheme. Employers are being gradually phased into Auto Enrolment between 2012 and 2017, until every employer must comply by 2018. For more details please see our post Auto Enrolment – What is it?
Our Auto Enrolment Service
We offer a fixed fee Auto Enrolment Service as an add-on to our fixed fee Payroll Services. Our Auto Enrolment service can also take care of most of the setting up as well as the ongoing administrative burden, ensuring that you comply with the new requirements. See the What’s Included section below to find out what is included in our service.
Our Auto Enrolment fixed fees start from just £10pcm plus VAT and is based on the number of employees and the pension provider used. See the Fixed fees section below for details.
What’s Included in our Auto Enrolment Service
Setup
Included
The staging date is the date you must start enroling and contributing to a pension scheme. We will work out your staging date and remind you of your responsibilities at the appropriate time.
At least one and up to two contacts must be provided to the pension regulator. We will be either the primary or secondary contact for you.
You can apply to postpone the date you enrol employees (not the staging date) by up to 3 months. We can do this for you and provide the letters you would need to send/email to staff.
We’ll work out which of the 4 different categories each of your current employees would fall into at your staging date. This will help you communicate with all staff and plan for the cost of the contributions.
We’ll register you and your chosen pension scheme with The Pension Regulator.
After your staging date you must declare your compliance with the legal duties of auto enrolment. We’ll ensure you comply and get your permission to declare compliance on your behalf.
Not Included
Unless you already have a qualifying pension scheme you need to choose one. We’re not authorised to advise you on which pension scheme to choose. You would need to consider which one is the most appropriate for you and your staff. You will also need to agree to the terms and conditions of your chosen pension scheme.
We provide the letters you’re required to send/email to staff, and some guidance. However, all other communication about Auto-Enrolment must be between you and your staff.
There are various combinations of contributions you and your employee can make to meet the minimum requirement. We’ll explain the options but you must decide which option to take.
If you have an existing workplace pension, it may be used for Auto Enrolment if it meets the new requirements. Our service doesn’t include the assessment of whether your existing pension scheme can be used.
Ongoing
Included
We’ll enrol all eligible staff onto your chosen pension scheme.
You can apply to postpone the enrolment of new staff e.g. if they have a probationary period. We can do this for you and provide the letters you would need to send/email to staff.
We’ll provide you with the letters you are required to send or email to your staff. The letters will be tailored for your business, not just templates.
Non-eligible staff can opt-in, and eligible staff can opt-out. We’ll enrol or opt out those staff with your pension scheme.
On each payrun we’ll calculate the contributions, deduct the employee contribution from their pay, and tell you how much to pay or will be collected to/by the pension scheme.
We’ll submit the details of the contributions to your pension scheme at each pay run.
Not Included
We provide the letters you’re required to send/email to staff, and some guidance. However, all other communication about Auto-Enrolment must be between you and your staff.
You must make payments or set up a direct debit with the pension scheme. Any communication regarding payments or refunds must be between you and the pension scheme
Your pension scheme may have different options for what and how they invest your employees pension fund. We are not authorised to give advice about this.
Auto Enrolment Service Fixed Fees
These fees are in addition to our payroll service fees which you’d be required to sign up for. All of our fees are stated excluding VAT which will be added at the prevailing rate.
Set Up Fees
If you would like us to set up your Auto Enrolment pension service (see above) we charge 6 times the applicable monthly rate shown below. So for SMART/NEST 4 that will be £60 plus VAT. This will be charged either as a one off fee or if it’s not too late you can start paying the monthly fee 6 months before your staging date.
SMART or NEST Pension Only
NEST is the National Employment Savings Trust. It’s free for employers and deducts low fees from the employee’s fund. NEST has been built specifically for auto enrolment. It accepts all employers, in contrast to some other pension providers who don’t accept smaller employers. See the NEST website for more details.
SMART Pension is an alternative low cost pension provider. Their service is also free to employers and they deduct low charges from employees’ funds. See more about Smart Pension website for more details. .
The following fees are added to our payroll fees if you only want to use either SMART or NEST and you would like us to do the ongoing administration, and optionally the setting up for you (see What’s Included above). It effectively doubles our payroll fees if you’d like to add on SMART/NEST.
Please note that CloudBook Accountants Ltd is not authorised to give investment advice. You must ultimately decide for yourself which pension scheme is most suitable, therefore we suggest you obtain advice from a financial adviser. Our offer of the service with SMART or NEST at a lower fee is not a suggestion that SMART or NEST is better or worse than the others. It simply reflects our potential cost saving if most of our clients choose the same pension provider.
Other Pension Schemes
If you choose to use a single pension provider for all employees that is not SMART or NEST, the fees shown below are added to our payroll fees if you would like us to do the admin for you. It effectively trebles our payroll fees.
Here is a list of other pension schemes that we can help you with:
- Aegon Pension
- Aviva Pension
- FriendsLife Pension
- GenLife
- Hargreaves Lansdown
- Legal and General Pension
- NEST (see above price table)
- NOW: Pensions
- People’s Pension
- Prudential Pension
- Royal London Group
- Salvus Master Trust
- Scottish Widows
- Standard Life
- True Potential
Fee Calculator
What our clients say about us
Trevor HolmesPrecise Marketing Ltd I have yet to meet someone as meticulous with numbers and calculations as Paul. An extremely personable individual who knows his work inside-out. He is highly self-motivated, independent and efficient – all the qualities that I look for in an accountant for my business. All of my accounting needs are immediately processed well ahead of schedule. Paul plays a pivotal role in all my financing activities, which allows me to successfully grow my company. He will be an asset to any company that decides to use his services and I recommend him completely for any accounting needs."
This is the first time I have used cloud based accounting. It has been a refreshing change. I found Paul to be extremely helpful in setting things up being a new user. Communication was done by email and i always received a response within a day. Very knowledgeable and excellent communication. And a fantastic bonus was that the service was 1/3 cheaper than what i was paying using a traditional accountant. I would without hesitation recommend Paul. Just brilliant.
Zafer SaygilierSayturk Ltd I have been dealing with Paul for the past 2 years, he has been amazing sorting out my very complex and disorganised affairs in no time and has provided me with clear advice and solutions tailored to me and my operations . I would recommend him and his professional services to anyone without any hesitation."
Mike BellJourneys To Wellbeing Ltd Paul Colman takes all the pressure off and lets us get on with our work by taking care of the little detail as well as the big picture."
A CuryHouse of Greenland Ltd Since the beginning of our start up and especially during busy and pressuring times, Paul has been by our side to help us dealing with accountancy. His patience with my lack of talent with numbers was amazing - I thank him for that and would recommend him in a heartbeat."
Iain CowardBiggerbet LtdPaul did a great job with our accounts. He delivered on deadline with minimum hassle for us. He uses technology very well and this helps provide top-notch service.
Jesús CarreraBitien LtdIt took me a while to find an accountant that understands the needs of the modern times. Paul is very good at using cloud systems that reduces unnecessary paperwork (specially in printed form), and accelerate communications. My accounting and bookkeeping is less annoying now. Thanks Paul.
Annie MulvanyFreelance Show CallerPaul was a delight to work with. Flexible, understanding and endlessly patient; I would recommend him in a heartbeat.
Martin Kruusimägi It has been great working with Paul. He is punctual and accurate, but I most appreciate the fact that I can go to him with any question, no matter how insignificant or elaborate. Thanks Paul, it's been a pleasure!"
Jhem MurrayJeystone Media Ltd We have used several accounting firms in the past and switched quite a few times, but since discovering Paul Colman FCA I can say with confidence that this is the level of service and value we have been looking for all along.
Steven Trotter Many thanks for a very fast and professional job and look forward to working with you again."
L FergusonPaul Ferguson Electrical Ltd I really appreciate your help, I know we pay you but you have been worth every penny and I am truly thankful for your assistance!!"
Anthony PearcePearce UK Consulting Ltd Good accountant with proven electronic processes."
Gabrielle ShegogSimple Software Solutions LtdPaul has been invaluable in providing accountancy services for my small business. As a small business owner, my time is valuable and so it's great having the piece of mind that I can rely on Paul to sort out my accounts for me. He is always prompt and clear in explaining anything I don't understand and I look forward to working with him well into the future.
D McIvorBeyond the Fridge (Frome) Ltd We’ve been with Cloudbook Accountants for some time now and would highly recommend Paul Colman FCA to any business looking for a truly enlightened advocate of online accounting and integration to online services. Having experienced several accountancy firms during my career, both large and small, I can honestly say that Cloudbook’s holistic approach to our business is by comparison the most efficient and cost effective, something we’ve long been searching for!"
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