Revenue Jersey is reminding employers – including building contractors – to prepare for changes to the way they submit their returns of employees’ tax deductions, taxable benefits, contributions and manpower.

Under the current system employers submit their tax, social security, and manpower information on different returns.

From January 2022, employers will submit a Combined Employer Return (CER) every month, which will include tax, social security contributions and manpower all on the same return.

The deadline for the first return under the new system is 15 February 2022. 

To complete the CER, employers who use their own payroll software will need to make changes to their systems. Employers who use the online employer returns form will be redirected to a new form when they submit their January 2022 return.

Submissions will need to include the correct social security numbers and tax identification numbers for each of their employees, to be accepted. Ahead of the change, employers will need to ensure all their records are correct and up to date.

Comptroller of Revenue, Richard Summersgill, said: “This initiative will make life easier for employers, enabling them to tell Government about a number of employee-related matters just once. It is the latest step in the Government’s plans to collect revenues more efficiently by centralising services and systems where it is appropriate to do so.”

“We’re committed to achieving this by modernising our legislation, providing easier access to services online, ensuring all customers can understand and meet their obligations while reducing costs.”

“The new return will make the submission process easier for employers but it’s important that employers are sufficiently prepared by having the correct information for their employees. We have been updating employers for some time and there is detailed information and advice on how to prepare for the changes on a dedicated webpage.”

More information about changes is available via the Government of Jersey website: www.gov.je/CombinedEmployerReturn

Payroll suppliers and employers have received information about the changes to give them enough time to update their systems and software.

Employers can also request IT specifications for their payroll provider, or subscribe to regular email updates by emailing: cer@gov.je

Source: Government of Jersey News Release.

Business preparedness, emergency and continuity are all subjects that most business owners have discussed during their annual strategy days. Fortunately, most have never had to implement these plans – until March 2020.

We all know that COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world of work forever. Homeworking, changes to contracts, government benefits and employee furloughs have all had to be considered and managed.

Perhaps understandably, limitations to our existing HR and payroll have been revealed.  Many organisations had to review how they manage their payroll, for the well-being of their teams and their businesses.

Payroll has been tested like never before 

Old, complicated, IT systems and ineffective, manual processes have been unable to cope with the ‘new normal’. Inaccurate data and a lack of analytics and visibility have hampered businesses’ ability to make fast decisions at the most critical time.

With often whole workforces  based at home, companies have had to urgently manage both the logistical and emotional challenges of keeping teams operational and happy. These issues don’t even take into consideration the potential of higher levels of sickness, leaving many businesses’ shorthanded, at the same time as possibly being over-staffed – it’s often one or the other, but rarely both.

Through all of this, people have still needed to be paid. Often with new, different terms than before as organisations rapidly restructured to  maintain resilience.

Payroll management needs to be cloud-based  

It has become apparent, very quickly, that the organisations who were able to adapt best to these new challenges were those who had embraced cloud-based working. Their teams were able to work from home more efficiently, and the administrative functions of their business, such as HR and payroll, were able to continue seamlessly.

Businesses that had traditional, in-house infrastructure, hosting internally, have struggled, at a time when certainty of income is all important. Having on-premise systems, tied to physical infrastructure and fixed locations, can create security, scalability and in the event of a pandemic even possibly health risks.

Payroll must change forever – like everything else  

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced rapid change to the way we work, collaborate and manage our teams. It has also quickly proven that people can work well from home. Even when the health crisis ends, home working won’t, which means that innovations to our HR policies and processes, including payroll will continue to be a worthwhile and valuable investment.

If you would like to discuss how Offshore Payroll could help your business, please email info@offshorepayroll.com to arrange a chat.