Less Tax for Students

If you are employing students over the summer months, don't forget to give them the HMRC form P38S (2011) to sign. This form allows the student to earn their full annual allowance of £7,475 from their holiday work before any tax is deducted.

The student must confirm they will return to full time study at a named college, school or university for a course that will continue until at least 5 April 2012. The student must also not have employment during term time.

The tax exemption does not cover NI contributions, so if the student's pay is at or above the earnings thresholds (£136 for employers contributions, £139 for employees contributions), you must deduct employees NICs and pay the appropriate employers NICs.

Remember the national minimum wage (NMW) rates do apply to students and part-time employees. For workers aged 18 to 20 inclusive the current NMW rate is £4.92 per hour. Only apprentices aged under 19 or apprentices in their first year can be paid the reduced NMW rate of £2.50 per hour.