Webinar: Payroll Reform 2026: The countdown to compliance has begun

📅 Wednesday 5 November, 11:00am (45 minutes)

The most significant shift in UK contractor payroll legislation in over a decade is coming which will directly impact every organisation engaging temporary workers and contractors, particularly those engaging workers/resource directly, as well as those via Umbrella or agency entities. This interactive session brings together two leading compliance specialists who will unpack exactly what the 2026 reforms means, how you can mitigate your organisational risk to remain compliant, what could potentially put your business at risk, and what you must do to prepare.

From April 2026, the introduction of Joint and Several Liability (JSL) for Tax and NIC Compliance will mean every organisation engaging temporary workers or contractors directly or via Umbrella entities will hold legal responsibility with HMRC for any unpaid liabilities. This legislation will cover all temporary workers and contractors, from short term temporary workers working on reception for a few weeks, to senior contractors on four figures a day delivering large projects.

The era of “plausible deniability” is over.

If your business engages temporary workers and contractors directly or indirectly via an Umbrella entity, this legislation will place you firmly in HMRC’s line of sight. The financial penalties and reputational damage from non-compliance are severe and ignorance won’t shield you.

The session will be led by two acknowledged specialists in recruitment compliance.

In this exclusive session, Deborah Murphy, FCSA  Head of Operations at the FCSA (The UK’s leading membership body for Umbrella entities) and Gordon Willmott, Director of Technology & Change at Meraki Talent, will reveal:

• What the reforms will change and how JSL will apply in practice.
• The warning signs of non-compliant supply chains.
• How you can mitigate your risk and adjust your supply chain to ensure you are not liable.
• Immediate actions organisations must take before April 2026

Hosted by Chris Paine, Meraki Talent’s Financial Services Business Manager, the discussion will be essential for any business engaging contingent workers, particularly those managing contractors in-house.

Designed for HR, Talent, Finance, and Procurement professionals, this 45-minute webinar will help you:

Understand the new liabilities: What Joint and Several Liability means in practice, and who is accountable.

Spot red flags early: Identify direct hire or Umbrella practices that expose you to HMRC scrutiny.

Protect your business: The contractual and operational steps to insulate your organisation.

Rebuild safely: Introduce “compliant circuit breakers” in your contractor supply chain.

Plan ahead: Follow a step-by-step compliance roadmap before the reforms take effect.

Non-compliant Umbrella and contractor engagement models have already cost HMRC £500 million in lost tax revenue (2022–23). The 2026 Payroll Reform will close these loopholes by holding end clients and umbrellas jointly responsible for unpaid PAYE or NICs.

If your organisation hires or pays temporary workers and contractors directly, these rules will apply to you and the consequences of getting it wrong will be costly.

As an organisation, Meraki Talent are positioned to not only resource temporary workers / contractors on behalf of clients, but also payroll directly sourced/engaged temporary workers and contractors on behalf of their clients at minimal cost, mitigating a client’s HMRC exposure and risk in the face of new legislation.

Our compliance specialists work closely with clients to help adjust their temporary worker and contractor supply chain, absorb risk, protect operational integrity ahead of the major regulatory changes in a smooth, efficient and risk compliant fashion.

👉 Register now to secure your place and ensure your business is ready.