Azets appoints UK lead for National Minimum Wage

Azets has announced that experienced employment tax specialist, Kyle Newton, will join the firm as a director to support clients across the UK in ensuring their compliance with National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation. Based in Leeds, Newton will lead the firm’s newly formed NMW service line and help clients nationwide implement NMW processes and controls to proactively manage compliance and navigate complex HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) enquiries. Newton is a qualified chartered accountant who brings a wealth of experience to the firm, having held a variety of roles at other top ten firms for over 15 years. With his experience including internal audit, one of his focuses is supporting businesses with implementing robust controls in a practical manner to reduce impact on day-to-day business. He has joined Azets amid new NMW rate changes, including increases and an extension of the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over, which came into force at the start of April. Newton said: “The National Minimum Wage is commonly misunderstood. It is much more complex than a simple hourly rate and is made up of a number of components. With an unprecedented increase to the NMW age rates and business budgets stretched, many businesses are faced with a difficult challenge of balancing cost and maintaining day to day business. “HMRC enforcement activity continues to increase, for example with its most recent regional enforcement campaign targeting 10 geographic regions, and the most recent naming and shaming round (round 20) highlighting HMRC’s continued focus to enforce to the full extent of the law.” He added: “Many employers remain unaware of the potential pitfalls where they could be underpaying workers and, with the likelihood of HMRC knocking at their door increasing, they could be faced with a 200% penalty and public naming and shaming, on top of paying the arrears, additional employer pension contributions and additional employer National Insurance Contributions. “Now more than ever it’s really important to consider taking proactive steps. With Azets’ accelerated growth and the firm supporting more and more SMEs, which is HMRC’s current enforcement focus, this is a perfect time to join Azets and I am looking forward to supporting clients across the UK.” Partner Richard Whitelock, who heads up Employer Solutions services in Yorkshire, said: “Kyle has a proven track record in both employment taxes and NMW advisory matters. He comes with impressive experience and a deep technical understanding of the NMW regulations and employment tax legislation. “He will be a valuable addition to our team providing employment tax advice support and leading on our newly launched National Minimum Wage service line nationwide.”