Three ways to run UK payroll, what a UK hire really costs, and the employment rules to know — with the tools to work it out and a specialist to set it up.
The right route depends on whether you have a UK entity and whether you want to stay the legal employer.
| Your own UK PAYE | DPNI scheme | Employer of Record (EOR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | You have (or will set up) a UK company or branch | No UK entity, but you want to stay the employer — our speciality | You need to start fast and don't want to be the legal employer |
| You stay the legal employer? | Yes | Yes | No — the EOR employs them |
| UK entity required? | Yes | No | No |
| Who pays HMRC? | You (via your PAYE scheme) | You / your UK agent, under the DPNI scheme | The EOR |
| Typical setup time | Longer — incorporate + register PAYE | Specialist setup (not online) — references in ~days | Fastest — days |
| Relative cost | Low ongoing, higher setup (entity) | Lean — payroll fee only, no entity | Highest — a premium per employee |
| Control of the relationship | Full | Full | Reduced — sits with the EOR |
Not sure which fits? Answer 3 quick questions →
On top of salary, the employer pays National Insurance and (usually) a workplace pension. Estimate the all-in cost:
Employer NI is 15% on pay above £5,000/yr (2025/26 & 2026/27). Employment Allowance (up to £10,500) can offset it for eligible employers. Estimate only — full calculators here.
Income Tax and National Insurance are deducted under PAYE and reported to HMRC in real time (an FPS on or before each payday).
The employer pays NI of 15% on earnings above £5,000/year — a real cost on top of salary to budget for.
Most UK workers must be auto-enrolled into a workplace pension, with minimum employer contributions and statutory letters.
Every employee gets an itemised payslip each period, and you keep payroll records — all handled for you.
Pay must meet the National Minimum/Living Wage, and employees are entitled to paid holiday (5.6 weeks statutory).
PAYE and NIC are paid to HMRC monthly (by the 22nd, electronically). We tell you exactly what's due and when — you pay.
The same three routes, through your home lens — what changes coming from each market:
Tell us your situation and we'll confirm the right route and a fixed fee — no obligation.
Get a quoteQuick enquiry — we reply within 1 UK business day