Guernsey and Alderney secondary pension scheme delayed
The introduction of a government-approved secondary pension scheme for Guernsey and Alderney has been delayed.
The scheme was due to be established in 2022 after being approved by deputies, but Brexit and Covid-19 have caused a delay.
No alternative start date has yet been proposed. A delay was not unexpected given the challenges of the past year, and that it could help businesses already hit by the pandemic prepare for the scheme’s implementation.
Local employers will be obliged to offer a pension scheme for staff if they do not do so already, and to make contributions of up to 3.5% of salary.
The default scheme is to be administered by a UK auto-enrolment pension provider specialist, but many businesses are setting up new schemes with local providers.
Details of the delay are set out in Employment & Social Security’s Social Security Contributory Fund Accounts 2020, due to be discussed by the States on 16 June.
Source: Guernsey press Website (Secondary pensions held up by Covid and Brexit | Guernsey Press)
September 18, 2024
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Jersey Mini Budget – Changes to Jersey Payroll
An extensive package of measures to address the cost-of-living crisis, which formed part of the Chief Minister’s 100 day plan has been passed.
The aim of this package is to put almost £15 million back into Islanders’ pockets this year and almost £42 million in 2023.
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Ian Gorst, said: “This mini budget will help individuals and families with their budgets in this cost of living crisis. I am pleased with the work we have done to help people with these broad measures at this time of need in the community.”
Some of the changes passed as part of the Mini budget will directly impact payroll in Jersey. A reduction from 6% to 4% for employee Social Security contributions, came into effect on the 1st of October 2022 for 3 months (ending on the 31st of December 2022).
Our clients won’t need to do anything, as the update to social security will go through to our databases automatically.
Also approved as part of the Mini budget was an above inflation increase of 12% in Income Tax thresholds and allowances, including Child Allowances, Additional Allowance and Child Care Tax Relief. From 1 January 2023 Income tax threshold for a single person will be raised from £16,550 to £18,550.
We will also be updating Jersey databases to reflect the increase in income tax thresholds from the 1st of January 2023 onward and will let our clients know if any action is required.
You can find more information about the Mini budget through the Government of Jersey website: https://www.gov.je/News/2022/Pages/MiniBudgetQandA.aspx
Source: Government of Jersey News Release.

Offshore Payroll is Listed in the Xero App Store as a Xero Certified Partner
Businesses using the global accounting platform Xero as their accounting system, can now benefit from a two-way interface with the cloud payroll application, Offshore Payroll.
Jeralie Pallot, director of Offshore Payroll, commented on the news “ We are delighted that Offshore Payroll has been accepted as a member of the Xero family; this brings exciting benefits to businesses operating in unique offshore environments. Our integration with Xero will improve accuracy and offer significant time savings by further automating the payroll process; allowing businesses to focus on other essential processes and achieving better outcomes.
Since the launch of the cloud based Offshore Payroll, our emphasis has always been on ease of use, efficiency, and automation of the payroll process for our users, which is what makes this software such a popular choice. Becoming a certified partner of Xero is another step forward in the ongoing development of our application.
The Xero certification caps off an exciting 12 months of growth for Offshore Payroll, which is now used by more than 800 organisations and provides payslips for more than 11,000 employees across the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
To learn more about how Offshore Payroll can help your business click here.

Embracing Modern Payroll Technology
In today’s fast-paced business environment, getting payroll right isn’t just a matter of paying employees on time – it’s about maintaining trust, boosting productivity, and creating a workplace where things run smoothly. Payroll errors, often underestimated, can turn what should be a straightforward task into a frustrating experience for both employees and business owners.
The good news? With the right tools, payroll can go from a headache to a highlight! Believe it or not, payroll errors are more common than we think. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 UK businesses faced payroll issues in 2022. These mistakes, whether small or significant, usually lead to late or incorrect payments. The ripple effect of such errors can be felt throughout the entire organisation, leading to unhappy employees, unnecessary stress, and time wasted on troubleshooting.
According to Personnel Today, some companies are spending more than 12 hours a month fixing payroll mistakes – valuable time that could be better spent growing the business. But there’s no need to get bogged down by these numbers. The solution is simpler than ever: modern payroll technology. True Cloud-based payroll systems, like Offshore Payroll, are transforming how businesses handle payroll, making it a seamless, efficient process.
Many companies recognise that upgrading their payroll system can significantly reduce errors and save time but concerns about cost and implementation can often cause hesitation. Offshore Payroll is here to change that perception. We believe that powerful, intuitive payroll software should be accessible to all businesses, regardless of size and without the stress or high expense. Our smart import tools make transferring payroll data and initial set up a breeze, and our dedicated relationship managers guide you every step of the way.
Once you make the switch, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. No more hours wasted on fixing errors – just more time to focus on what truly matters: growing your business. It’s a smart investment that pays off, leaving both you and your team more satisfied, productive, and ready for the future.
“a modern and progressive payroll package”
Submitting the CER at the click of the button is brilliant!!! My manager could not believe it, no more manual calculations.
Running Jersey payroll is now faster, it generates various payroll reports that we find helpful. I would happily recommend.
Mumba Chomba – Management Accountant

