Tax while on Maternity leave as a nanny

[glitternanny]

Hi

Can anyone help me - as a nanny on ML do I still pay tax and NI on my SMP?

I worked out last night that as i have 2 jobs I'm financially a lot better off having the full 33 weeks off my 2 day job and returning to my 3day job! I'm just about to contact ACAS etc to see if this is plausible as I would be returning to my 3 day job.

That left me wondering what happens to my tax, is the £128.30 the GROSS SMP, i.e. my employers take the tax from this amount

I was just wondering that if I don't return to my 2 day job til later in the year rather than end Feb as currently agreed - then my 3 day job could take my entire tax code for the interim months.

I'm not trying to mess my employers about and I would give them plenty of notice with regards to my change in dates but my 2 day job I can't take my son back to and with paying for childcare its financially better for us (upto £120pm better off) for me to stay off work.

Where my 3day job I can take my baby with me too.

I hope that makes some sense....

You can only work 10 days while on SML before you lose your SMP, so if you return to one job that will be your only income. SMP is £128.73 IN TOTAL - not sure how it would work between 2 employers.

Thanks - I get two lots of SMP as I have two employers.

I spoke to ACAS and was told that I can have different dates to return - I am aware of the KIT days but I wasn't sure if this was per job and obviously if this is over both jobs then yes I'd loose my SMP from my 2nd job and my 'plan' wouldn't work.

Its all so confusing!

Well maybe you will, I thought you lost it if you returned to work at all.

Hi,

I spoke to ACAS - the jobs are classed seperately as they are independent employers so I can return to one later than the other and I wont loose SMP because I've returned to one employer before the other.

SMP is taxed (so I guess I'd keep my tax code split as it is)

big smile

is smp really taxed. im getting maternity allowance and looked it but and it said it wasnt taxed. wil need to check that out as need to know so i can show it on my tax return at the end of year

SMP is taxed, MA isn't.

SMP is not a benefit, it is a payment your employer must make to you (it is called a Statutory Payment).