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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.

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What should you perform in NYC? We asked some New Yorkers. They gave us their best tips on how to explore the Big Apple,from getting on the subway to finding the city’s best bagels to definitely (definitely) leaving Manhattan

# 1: Get out of Manhattan

Manhattan is wonderful. But locals note that it’s only 1/5 of NYC– you’ll find much of New York’s coolest places to visit in the other four boroughs.

Besides Manhattan,where should you go? Locals say it depends on your travel style. Our trip planners say that Brooklyn is a great place to enjoy local breweries,that you’ll find fantastic Asian cuisine in Queens (dim sum!!),and that the Bronx Botanical Garden is really fantastic.

Plus,you can easily get on a train to an entirely different universe– upstate New York! Not far from the city,you’ll find fantastic nature,hiking trails,small towns,and places to camp. We have local trip planners in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. They can help you plan a visit. Learn more.

So if you’re trying to find cool things to do in NYC,catch the train. Cross a bridge. You’ll find a lot to do beyond Manhattan.

Local tip: Staten Island gets a bum rap,but taking the ferry there is free– and the island offers some cool hikes.

# 2: Wander through Times Square …

Locals tell us they get it. If it’s your very first time in NYC,you’re going to want to go to Times Square. (They note,however,that you won’t see any local New Yorkers there.).

Wander through,take a look at the lights,and snap a selfie. But then walk a few blocks. There’s a lots of cool stuff nearby.

If you walk about fifteen minutes south,locals say you’ll get to Koreatown– and delicious Korean food. Walk a few blocks to the west,you’ll hit the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood– and more fantastic restaurants. Our trip planners say you’ll also find some great museums within walking distance,including some hidden gems– like the beautiful Morgan Library.

# 3: Have a hotdog (or some halal food).

Sure,you’ll find plenty of incredible restaurants in New York. But there’s something special about NYC street food. Maybe it’s because everyone in New York has somewhere to become,that makes these grab-and-go meals a vital part of city life.

Locals can provide you some direction when it comes to their favorite street food snacks. Hot dogs,obviously,are iconic. (Especially NYC’s so-called “dirty water dogs”.) Or,visit a halal cart to grab a delicious meal of chicken or lamb over rice. (Our trip planners in New York recommend getting white sauce and hot sauce).

As for the most important meal of the day? Locals assure us you’ll find fantastic breakfast carts on almost every corner. Proceed and grab a bagel,muffin,or donut before power walking your way through the city streets.

Local tip: Definitely check out New York City farmers’ markets. And in the summer,go to Williamsburg to eat lunch at Smorgasburg. They have dozens of vendors all with different sort of food.

# 4: Catch a live show.

Broadway is cool and you should go. But locals tell us that you’ll find live shows throughout NYC. Everything from underground (and free) comedy clubs to Shakespeare in the Park to immersive theater experiences. NYC draws creatives. And the result is that you’ll find shows all over the city,every night of the week.

If you love music,see what a like-minded local says about their favorite venues. Our trip planners tell us that the historic Blue Note is great for jazz. If you love indie-rock,go see a show at Baby’s All Right. More into traditional music? Visit the NY Philharmonic or the Metropolitan Opera.

Local tip: If your New York City budget is not Broadway sized but you want to see a show,try to get discounted tickets at TKTS.

# 5: Eat as much iconic NYC food as you can.

Yup,another must-do in New York City has to do with eating. There are just so many incredible eats here.
Both big ones? Bagels and pizza.

You’ll have so many choices for these in New York,so get some local advice. Our trip planners tell us that 2 Bros Pizza,Joe’s,and DiFara’s are all great. And those $1 slices always suffice.

For bagels,they tell us it really depends. Some people prefer the smaller,chewy style of Bagel Bob’s. Some prefer the fluffier fare at Leo’s. But all can settle on the NYC magic of a fresh-baked everything bagel with generous globs of cream cheese.

Local tip: There are up to 800 languages spoken within the 5 boroughs which means you can likely find whatever type of cuisine you want. You’ll find Ukraine food in Brighton Beach; Shanghai snacks in Flushing; and Polish dumplings in Greenpoint.

# 6: Bask in Central Park …

We’re all about leaving the beaten path,but the well-known and well-loved Central Park is absolutely worth a visit. Plus,this park is full of so many twisting trails that it is possible to wander from the main drag.
Locals suggest wandering the thirty-six miles of the Ramble,sunbathing in Sheep Meadow,or simply wandering around. You’re bound to discover some treasures.

# 7: … but make certain to explore Prospect Park too.

Is Central Park incredible? Yes. Is Prospect Park in Brooklyn more incredible? Possibly– even Frederick Law Olmsted,who designed both parks,saw Prospect Park as his “masterpiece”.

And locals love Prospect Park. They tell us that it’s quieter than Central Park,and feels more like a hidden gem than its well-traveled Manhattan sibling.
What to do here? Our trip planners suggest wandering the trails,watching the dogs splash around Dog Beach,seeing a show at the bandshell,or visiting the beautiful Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

# 8: Get on the subway.

The subway may seem intimidating. But locals tell us that New York’s prime form of transportation is safe,simple to use,and extensive. It’s a must if you want to explore every corner of the city.

So get that Metrocard! If you’re going to be using the subway often,our trip planners suggest getting a 1-week unlimited pass. They also note that,at many stations in Manhattan,you don’t need a Metrocard at all. You can tap your charge card or your smartphone to enter the turnstile.

# 9: Wander through as many museums as possible.

Museums play a huge role in New York’s status as a hub of art and history. Locals love them just as much as tourists. They suggest visiting the Met and the MoMA obviously,but also highly recommend branching out and visiting some of the less-touristy spots– like the Guggenheim,the New Museum,the Museum of Sex.

# 10: Discover the hidden gems– see NYC like the locals do.

New York City is huge. Huge,and constantly changing. That means that new places are popping up constantly. Guidebooks and Internet lists simply can’t keep pace with everything going on in this particular dynamic city. When you work with a local to plan your trip,they’ll let you learn about the activities they adore. Maybe it’ll be the Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza. Or maybe catching a show at Rough Sell Williamsburg … or maybe … Basically,there’s a New York City that the tourists see … and an entirely different city that the locals love. Why see New York City like a tourist when you could see it like a local?