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How Payroll Outsourcing Uncovered Hidden Reliefs and Secured £15K in Compliance Benefits

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🔷 Highlights

  • Achieved full compliance with The Pensions Regulator
  • Uncovered and corrected multiple payroll inaccuracies
  • Secured £12,000–£15,000 in Employment Allowance
  • Applied Small Employer Relief, boosting SMP reimbursements to 108.5%

Introduction

With time running short and compliance responsibilities increasing, a financial services provider began exploring the benefits of outsourcing payroll. Their internal processes lacked structure and consumed a significant amount of time, so they sought expert support to streamline operations and avoid potential penalties.

The Initial Problem: What Went Wrong?

Our early assessment revealed some concerning oversights:

  • Employment Allowance hadn’t been claimed for 3–4 clients
  • Small Employer Relief (SER) was not selected for another set of 3–4 clients
  • Director dates of birth were inaccurate compared to Companies House
  • Company addresses were incorrect
  • Most urgently, TPR (The Pensions Regulator) declarations were missed for several clients

In short, compliance had been overlooked. These were not minor errors—they posed real regulatory risks and potential financial losses.

Corient’s First Solution: The Fix

Taking over payroll from May 25, our team ensured seamless pay run continuity while laying the foundation for a thorough audit. This marked the beginning of a structured approach to cleaning up historical payroll data and restoring accuracy.

The New Problem: A Surprise Roadblock

As we progressed, new challenges surfaced:

  • Reliefs such as Employment Allowance and SER had never been claimed
  • Director and business data mismatches posed verification issues
  • Missed TPR declarations threatened the client’s standing with the regulator

Our compliance team recognised that this wasn’t just poor administration—it was a ticking compliance clock. We needed to take a corrective route that would address immediate risks and prevent future ones.

Corient’s Second Solution: Fixing the New Problem

Here’s how we resolved it, step by step:

  1. Compliance Audit: Our specialists reviewed all pay runs in detail
  2. Client Communication: We raised queries and collected clarifications
  3. Data Rectification: Upon client confirmation, we corrected all inaccuracies
  4. Statutory Reliefs Claimed: Employment Allowance and SER were promptly applied
  5. TPR Declarations Submitted: After we flagged the missed filings, the client completed their The Pensions Regulator submissions

This structured approach meant the client now had a robust, compliant payroll process backed by expert oversight. We also helped them recognise the long-term advantages of proactive payroll outsourcing in managing their expanding compliance landscape.

The Final Outcome: Success Story

The impact was measurable:

  • Full TPR compliance was achieved, avoiding potential fines
  • £12,000–£15,000 in Employment Allowance was recovered
  • Application of SER increased SMP reimbursement from 92% to 108.5%
  • Director details and company records were aligned with Companies House

“We didn’t realise how many opportunities were being missed. Corient gave us peace of mind and measurable financial returns.”

Key Takeaways: Why This Matters for Businesses

  • Reviewing historical payroll can uncover significant missed benefits
  • Accuracy in filings prevents costly compliance penalties
  • Payroll outsourcing enables financial and operational growth

The cost of inaction is high—but the value of expertise is even higher.

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