National Minimum Wage rates 2009

National Minimum wage rates normally change on 1 October each year.

If you need to change your payroll, start thinking about it now!

In spite of negative inflation, there will be increases to the rates of minimum wage on 1 October 2009.

The new rates of minimum wage will apply from 1 October 2009. These show a small increase from the 2008 rates, the increases having been proposed while the rate of inflation was considerably higher than now.

The new rates and rates of increase are :

Full rate (age 22 and over) - new rate £5.80 per hour; old rate £5.73 per hour; increase 1.2%

18 - 21 rate - new rate £4.83 per hour; old rate £4.77 per hour; increase 1.25%

Youth rate - new rate £3.57 per hour; old rate £3.53 per hour; increase 1.1%

Don't forget to tell your accountant if you intend changing the salary of a member of staff.

If you struggle with the constant changes in the PAYE system it may be worth getting your accountant to process your payroll for you.

Help on the minimum wage is available from the HMRC website which has a dedicated National Minimum Wage area.