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Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) in QuickBooks Online Standard Payroll

SOLVED•by QuickBooks•31•Updated September 22, 2023

Your employee might be eligible for Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) and leave if their partner or spouse is having a baby. If the employee meets the eligibility criteria, you have a legal requirement as the employer to pay the employee.

SPP for eligible employees is either £151.20 a week or 90% of their Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) (whichever is lower). This is the amount for 2020/2021, please note that this amount changes each tax year. We calculate the employee’s eligible pay and also deduct the necessary taxes and NICs, if applicable.

For an employee to be eligible for SPP, they must meet all of the following conditions:

  • Must be classed as an employee and be on your payroll earning at least £120 a week (gross) in an 8 week ‘relevant period’ (paternity pay only).
  • Have been continuously employed by you for at least 26 weeks up to any day in the ‘qualifying week’.
  • Give you the correct notice.

For SPP

  • Employees can choose to take either 1 week or 2 consecutive weeks.
  • Leave can’t start before the baby's birth date.
  • Employees are eligible for SPP either on the day of birth, or the day or week you and the employee agree upon after the day of birth.
  • The leave must be completed within 56 days of the birth (or due date if the baby is early).

Note: For employees who just started or if you switched from another payroll, we use the starter declaration to calculate how much leave the employee is due, the amount they’re entitled to, and the taxes and NICs that need to be deducted.

Enter SPP in QuickBooks

Click to enlarge image
  1. Go to Payroll and select Employees (Take me there).
  2. Select the applicable employee.
  3. Select Actions and Employee's Leave.
  4. Select Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP).
  5. Select the First day of leave.
  6. Select the Baby’s due date.
    When you need to update the Last day of leave, the Baby’s birth date, or any of the other fields, you’ll find the record under Leave periods on the employee’s profile.
    • Note: For employees who just started or if you switched from another payroll, we use the starter declaration to calculate how much leave the employee is due, the amount they’re entitled to, and the taxes and NICs that need to be taken out.
  7. For Average Weekly Earnings, QuickBooks calculates the AWE automatically.
    • Use the AWE field to enter the correct amount only for certain instances, like if you’re switching from another payroll software as QuickBooks does not have the employee's payroll history to accurately calculate the AWE. In such instances, enter the correct amount.
    • If you haven’t run payroll with us for at least 23 weeks before the baby’s due date, then enter the employee’s AWE. Note: To calculate the AWE, you need to find the relevant period and determine the qualifying week, which is 12 weeks from the baby's due date. Then take the previous 8 weeks pay to determine the AWE.
    • If the SPP is for an adoption, use the matching date instead of expected due date.
  8. Save your changes.

See also

For more information about eligibility, leave and pay, see Statutory Paternity Pay and Leave: employer’s guide. You might also want to check out SSP: manually calculate your employee’s payments.

How to enter Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) in QuickBooks.

Employees and payroll

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