I’m a company director and have no idea how to claim SMP. Help!

[Stressedout85]

My business partner and I run our own limited company and I’m 27 weeks pregnant. I know that I will qualify for SMP (as opposed to maternity allowance) from the company but have no idea which forms I need to fill in or even whether I’m too late to claim! I’ve tried searching but can’t find any practical information on how to actually sort this. I do have an accountant but they don’t do maternity stuff - only basic payroll. Does anybody know?

Surprised your accountant can't help. You're best off ringing HMRC.

www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay

That should give you all the information you need

Thanks - I’ve read that link from HMRC, but there’s no information on any forms I need to fill in as a company director. Do I just go ahead and pay myself SMP from the company and reclaim it through my tax return at the end of the tax year? Do I not need to tell HMRC in advance that I’m doing that or fill in any forms at this stage? This is what I’m struggling to ascertain!

Do receive salary from the company - if so you run SMP through payroll just like you do for any other employer. If you only get dividend it will be MA you need to claim.
This is the employers guide to claiming SMP, but likely your payroll software will have a lot of the forms you need. Or if your outsource payroll talk to them.

My accountant sorted the whole thing for me.... Sorry I can't be more help

If you get a salary then its through payroll and the 92% is claimed back via reduced payment to HMRC.

Yes I do get a salary. When do I claim it back from HMRC - at the end of the tax year?

I got a lump payment I didn't claim back at end of year. It was quite a low amount as on paper my salary is low - rest is dividends

The company can claim it in advance if your turnover is small enough. Your accountant should be able to sort it for you. And as a small company you get about 104% of it, not the 92% bigger employers can claim.

SMP is always through payroll (as opposed to MA). Your accountant will need to do it. If this confuses them, change accountants.

”I do have an accountant but they don’t do maternity stuff - only basic payroll.”

Statutory payments is basic payroll.

You need a new accountant! Why are tou oaying someone who can't do payroll properly?!? This IS literally what they are qualified as, and they also have access to all the resources to keep up to date with changes.

If they don't they're not worth having, and dont sound qualified sack them.

You know how to hire new accountants, so do that and let them do what they're supppsed to do. I am astounded at such nonsense from supppsed professionals. Not professional at all.

Depends how often you pay your hmrc payments over. I pay ours over monthly but I work for a multi academy trust of schools so our monthly bill is huge.

Calculating SMP is definitely a basic payroll function

OP if it is only the 2 directors on the payroll you will be able claim 100% of the SMP plus a small amount of NI on top of that presuming you are being paid enough salary via payroll to qualify. You can also request a refund up front to cover the cost if you have no PAYE liabilities to offset against. Again presumably this is the case for you.
If you are taking directors salary of £719 I'd also advise topping up the SMP each month to reach that level so you still get your NI credits.

Speak to your accountant/payroll again, they absolutely should be doing this for you. You cant claim it as a separate thing as SMP is an employee benefit only.

I have a limited company and my accountant sorted it all out for me, all I had to do was send them my Matb1

Have a read of this and send it to your accountant
www.gov.uk/employers-maternity-pay-leave