HMRC minimum wage checks target rural businesses

Government officials are cracking down on farm employers who fail to pay workers the national minimum wage (NMW), accountant Saffery Champness has warned.

The firm said that HMRC was particularly active in this area at the moment and a number of farmers had reported undergoing wage checks.

Saffery Champness partner Martyn Dobinson said: “We are aware that HMRC is carrying out compliance checks across the rural sector.”

See also: Agricultural workers at risk from minimum wage violations

The officials will scrutinise records to see that minimum wage levels are being met and the correct allowances and deductions are being made, Mr Dobinson explained.

“We are urging all employers to be aware of the correct minimum wage levels, and to be sure that their records are correct and up to date,” he added.

Severe penalties

And he warned that penalties for non-compliance were severe.

In addition to having to pay the arrears, employers can face a 200%, non-negotiable penalty on underpayments, going back up to six years, for current and former employees.

Errant employers are also named and shamed, to act as a warning to others.

“Where the arrears total more than just £100, the employer will be publicly named,” Mr Dobinson said.

Saffery Champness outlined the four main areas where employers were breaching legislation.

1. Provision of benefits such as accommodation. Where rent-free accommodation is provided, the accommodation offset is seen as income and added to pay for NMW calculations. However, any rent paid by the employee should be deducted from the wage.
2. Incorrect deductions from pay, for own goods, products and food or salary sacrifice.
3. Deducting the cost of a uniform or equipment required to carry out a role, where these are not provided by the employer.
4. Volunteers. HMRC is challenging whether individuals are truly volunteers or actually workers for NMW purposes. Any such arrangement needs to be very carefully worded. For example, there can be additional complications with casual workers and temporary staff – beaters employed on shoots, or seasonal agricultural workers.