Maximising Savings with Salary Sacrifice: How Salary Sacrifice Can Help Employers Reduce Payroll Bills and Employees Keep More in Their Pocket
As we move through 2025, many employers and employees are feeling the effects of rising costs, particularly with National Insurance Contributions (NICs) being firmly upheld in the Spring Statement. While this has put extra pressure on payroll budgets, there’s a silver lining for both employers and employees: the salary sacrifice scheme.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to salary sacrifice can be an effective strategy to reduce employer payroll costs, while ensuring employees take home more of their earnings.
What Is Salary Sacrifice?
Salary sacrifice is a scheme in which an employee agrees to give up part of their salary in exchange for non-cash benefits. This could be anything from pension contributions to childcare vouchers, health insurance, or even electric car leasing. The key to the scheme’s effectiveness is that the reduction in salary is made before tax and National Insurance is applied. This results in a lower taxable income and, consequently, a reduced payroll bill for the employer and lower tax and NIC liabilities for the employee.
How Salary Sacrifice Benefits Employers
- Reduction in Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
Employers are required to pay NICs on their employees’ earnings. By offering salary sacrifice, the employer effectively reduces the salary on which they have to pay NICs. This can make a significant difference to a company’s payroll costs, especially if the scheme is offered to a large number of employees. - Attractive Employee Benefits
Salary sacrifice allows employers to offer attractive benefits without directly increasing salary costs. By providing employees with benefits such as pension contributions, healthcare, or gym memberships, companies can improve employee satisfaction and retention without incurring additional employer taxes. - Administrative Efficiency
Implementing salary sacrifice schemes can be an easy way to optimise payroll, especially when bundled with other employee benefits packages. It can streamline benefits administration and provide a clearer picture of costs in the long term.
How Salary Sacrifice Benefits Employees
- Higher Take-Home Pay
Employees who participate in salary sacrifice schemes can see an increase in their take-home pay, as they are reducing their taxable income. For example, if an employee sacrifices £100 of their salary in exchange for £100 worth of benefits, they could save on tax and NICs, resulting in a higher net income than if they simply took the salary without the benefit. - Tax Savings on Employee Benefits
Many of the benefits provided under salary sacrifice are subject to preferential tax treatment. For instance, pension contributions made through salary sacrifice are not only exempt from NICs but may also reduce the employee’s overall tax bill, depending on their income level. - Access to Non-Cash Benefits
Salary sacrifice offers employees a way to access benefits that may otherwise be unaffordable or unavailable. For example, employees may have the option to lease an electric car or receive enhanced healthcare benefits at a lower cost, which can make a significant difference to their quality of life. - Pension Contributions
One of the most popular benefits in a salary sacrifice arrangement is increasing pension contributions. Employees can boost their retirement savings by sacrificing part of their salary and having that amount contributed to their pension scheme. This can be especially beneficial in light of government incentives to encourage saving for retirement.
Popular Salary Sacrifice Benefits
- Pension Contributions
A classic example, salary sacrifice, allows employees to increase their pension contributions without feeling the immediate financial impact. This is particularly important given the increasing need for individuals to take greater responsibility for their retirement savings. - Childcare Vouchers
For parents, salary sacrifice can be used to exchange salary for childcare vouchers. These vouchers are typically tax-free up to certain limits, allowing employees to save money on childcare costs. - Cycle to Work Schemes
Employees can sacrifice part of their salary in exchange for a bike and equipment to commute to work. This not only saves money but encourages a healthier, more environmentally friendly commute. - Electric Car Schemes
As the government pushes towards greener, more sustainable transport, employers can offer employees the option to lease an electric car via salary sacrifice. This can result in significant savings on car tax and fuel costs for employees, all while reducing the employer’s NICs liability. - Healthcare and Wellbeing Benefits
Many employers offer private health insurance or wellness benefits (e.g., gym memberships) through salary sacrifice. This is an attractive option for employees who are looking to take care of their health while reducing their taxable income.
Key Considerations for Employers
While salary sacrifice schemes offer several benefits, there are important considerations to keep in mind:
- Impact on Other Benefits
Sacrificing salary may reduce the amount of money an employee earns, which can impact eligibility for benefits like maternity pay, sick pay, or overtime. It’s important for employees to understand the potential consequences before opting in. - Communication and Administration
Clear communication is crucial. Employees need to fully understand how the scheme works and the benefits they’ll receive. Additionally, employers must ensure the scheme is set up and managed correctly from an administrative standpoint to ensure compliance with tax regulations. - Reviewing Contracts and Policies
If implementing salary sacrifice for the first time, employers should review their contracts and policies to ensure everything is compliant with tax and employment law. Regular reviews and updates will ensure the scheme remains beneficial for both the employer and the employee.
Conclusion
In a climate of rising costs and uncertain economic times, salary sacrifice is a smart strategy for both employers and employees. Employers can reduce their payroll bill, while employees get to enjoy greater benefits and more disposable income. By implementing salary sacrifice schemes, businesses not only save on NICs but also improve employee satisfaction by offering valuable benefits that enhance their work-life balance.
In a world where every penny counts, salary sacrifice stands out as a win-win solution!
For HMRC guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/salary-sacrifice-and-the-effects-on-paye
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