Where an employees weekly pay fluctuates above and below €500, but the annual pay during 2008 is not more than €26,000, the employee may claim a refund of the 2% Health Contribution deduction, or where an employees weekly pay fluctuates above and below €1,925, but the annual pay during 2008 is not more than €100,100, the employee may claim a refund of the 0.5% Health Contribution deduction from the
Department of Social & Family Affairs
PRSI Refunds
Oisin House
Pearse St.
Dublin 2.
Telephone (01) 6732586
Holiday pay
If you pay an employee for a period of more than a week, apply the relevant PRSI -free allowance for each of the weeks involved. It is also important to determine the subclass correctly.
Example:
An employee receives two weeks holiday pay with a current weeks wages. To determine the correct PRSI subclass for each week, apply the PRSI -Free Allowance (€127 X 3) and record the contributions accordingly. This arrangement also applies when an employer pays holiday pay when an employee leaves the employment.
Sick pay
Payment of Illness Benefit and Injury Benefit can now be made directly to your company where sick pay arrangements require the employee(s) to hand over Illness Benefit or Injury Benefit payments to their employers. The Illness Benefit Claim Form/First Medical Certificate (MC 1) now has a section where the employee can indicate that any payment(s) due can issue directly to the employer.
Completion of P45
Where an employee leaves his or her employment, a form P45 should be completed and given to the employee immediately. The P45 is very important and may be required as evidence of entitlement to Social Welfare benefits.
Lump sum payments
Lump sum payments made to employees when they leave employment are not regarded as reckonable pay for PRSI purposes. These include redundancy, gratuities, ex-gratia and pay in lieu of notice. However, a Class K contribution is paid on the taxable amount. If the lump sum is exempt from tax, it is exempt from PRSI .
PRSI for the self-employed
Self-employed people, other than self-employed company directors, must register with the Revenue Commissioners for PRSI purposes. Under the self assessment system, PRSI is paid to the local tax office together with any other payment due. Self-employed company directors pay their PRSI under the PAYE system.
The rate of PRSI contribution payable for those whose annual income is below €26,000 is 3% of reckonable income, or €253 which ever is greater.
See information booklet SW 74 for full details.
If a person is no longer liable to pay PRSI , they may apply to become a voluntary contributor. See information booklet SW 8 for full details.
For further informtion, contact Self-Employed Section, telephone: (051) 356 000 or (01) 704 3000
National Training Fund Levy
The National Training Fund Levy of 0.70% is included in the employer's share of PRSI under Class A and H, with no change in the overall rate payable by the employers.
Taxation of Jobseekers or Illness Benefit
Payments for qualified child(ren) are excluded from the taxation of Jobseekers Benefit and Illness Benefit. The first six weeks of Illness Benefit are exempt from tax in each year. This Department will notify you of the amount of Illness Benefit to be taken into account for tax purposes, where appropriate. Taxation of Jobseekers Benefit will still be mainly applied through the tax office.
If you have any enquiries about taxation of social welfare benefits contact your local tax office
Maintenance payments
A separated person may claim a refund of PRSI on enforceable maintenance payments made to his or her spouse. The PRSI due will be re-calculated on the reckonable pay/income reduced by the amount of maintenance payment. Any excess PRSI paid will be returned by claiming a refund after year end, 31 December 2008 from the:
PRSI Refunds Sections,
Oisín House,
Pearse St.,
Dublin 2.,
Telephone 01 -6732586
Subsidiary employments
Subsidiary employment, which is insurable at Class J regardless of earnings, is defined in legislation. It includes for example employment of people who are also insurable at Class B, C, D or H in their main employment.
Rehabilitative employment
Sheltered Workshop employment is not insurable under Social Welfare Acts as it is not regarded as being employment under a contract of service (in other words, no employer or employee relationship is involved). The allowance being paid is not "reckonable income" or "reckonable emoluments" for PRSI (and PAYE ) purposes.
However, employment in the open labour market where a normal employer/employee relationship exists is insurable at a Class A rate if weekly income is €38 or more, and at a Class J rate if it is less than €38 (from all employments).
Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.)
It is vital that the correct PPS No. is shown on your P35 end of year return for each employee. If you need assistance in tracing the PPS No.(s) for your employee(s), please have them contact:
Client Identity Services, Tel. (01) 704 3281
Recording of contributions (End of year returns for 2008)
For the year 2008 and subsequent years, the gross pay on the form P35 (end of year return) for each employee should include any taxable benefit (notional pay) received by that employee during the year. In addition, the total amount of taxable benefits in the year for all employees should be included in the appropriate section of the summary page of the P35.
The P35 should not include any class or subclass of PRSI that did not apply during the tax year.
If the employee changes class (for example Class A0 and J0) an aggregate total of weeks for all classes should be included on the P35.
If more than two classes or subclasses are involved during the year, you should fill in a form PRC 1 (copy in your P35 Pack) or a computer printout in the same format showing the classes and number of weeks of insurable employment in each class or subclass.
You must use Form P35 LT when the PPS No. is unknown, but you still record the :
Employee's Name,
Address,
Date of Birth,
Mother's Birth Surname.
If you need help
A Ready Reckoner containing weekly calculations for Classes A, J, K and S and further information on PRSI Rates for Employers and Employees is available on our website.
A range of information is now available for employers on our website : Schemes and Services
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Other useful booklets:
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Employer's Guide to PRSI
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SW 3
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Guide to Voluntary Contributions
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SW 8
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PRSI for Non- PAYE Employees
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SW 63
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Employers' PRSI Exemption Scheme
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SW 73
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A Guide to PRSI for the Self-Employed
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SW 74
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Family Employments and PRSI
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SW 102
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Worksharing
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SW 105
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Guide To Pay-Related Social Insurance
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SW 106
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