Beginners Tax and National Insurance Course

If you’re new to payroll or want to understand how tax and National Insurance are calculated in the UK, this one-day training course gives you the essential skills you need. The focus is on core payroll fundamentals — from understanding tax codes and NIC categories to completing manual payroll calculations with confidence. You’ll learn how to move from gross pay to net pay and produce accurate payslips using real examples and hands-on practice.

This course can be taken on its own or as part of the three-day Payroll Techniques programme, which contributes toward a Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award in Payroll Techniques.

Who This Course Is For

This training is ideal if you:

• Work in payroll or HR with little or no experience of current UK payroll practice
• Are new to the role, returning after a break, or covering payroll for the first time
• Are competent with payroll software but need a stronger understanding of the underlying calculations

By the end of the day, you’ll understand UK tax and National Insurance rules and be able to apply them confidently in your payroll work.

What You’ll Achieve

During the course, you will:

• Understand how Income Tax and National Insurance contributions are calculated
• Learn what tax codes and NI table letters mean and how they’re used
• Practice manual calculations for starters and leavers
• Build a payslip piece by piece with real-world examples

Why Attend

• Practical, example-driven learning that builds confidence
• Delivered live by expert payroll tutors
• Suitable for complete beginners and those needing a refresher
• Includes exercises you can apply to real payroll scenarios
• CPD-certified and recognised by UK payroll professionals
• Gain confidence in the core skills needed to support any payroll system