Global Payroll, Compliance, and Tax News: September Round-Up

From US payroll benchmark revisions hinting at a softer labor market to Sage unveiling the UK’s first MTD AI Agent to support accountants, September brought a host of significant developments in the global payroll landscape. This month’s round-up covers everything from evolving tax and labor regulations across New Zealand, Egypt, Oman, Spain, Ireland, and India, to key payroll statistics like the record wages in Brazil and career opportunities in the US and India. We also highlight upcoming industry events, as well as new resources and inspiring content - including podcasts and articles - designed to keep payroll professionals informed, connected, and ahead of the curve.

US payrolls benchmark revision estimate suggests labor market weaker than previously thought

The U.S. economy likely created 911,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months through March than previously estimated, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on September 9th. Job growth almost stalled in August and the economy shed jobs in June for the first time in four and a half years.

Read more here.

Sage unveils UK’s first MTD AI Agent, giving accountants time back and confidence in compliance

Debuting at Accountex Manchester on September 23, the new MTD (Making Tax Digital) for Income Tax Agent transforms quarterly updates into a seamless workflow, reducing admin and ensuring compliance Enabled through new Sage Copilot capabilities landing in October, with full automation added ahead of the 2026 MTD deadline.

Read more here.

Oceania: New Zealand proposes changes aimed at easing tax obligations for new migrants and remote workers

A new tax bill, effective from beginning of September proposes significant changes to the New Zealand tax regime which will impact international employees and their employers. Significant changes include amendments to the foreign investment fund regime and changes for remote workers and “digital nomads.”

Read more here.

MENA: New Labor Law No. 14 in Egypt

September 1, 2025 the Labor Law No. 14 came into place, which fully replaces the previous Labor Law No. 12 of 2003. It expands protections by formally recognizing flexible work models (remote, part-time, job-sharing), increasing maternity leave to 4 months (available three times), introducing paternity leave, and mandating non-discrimination including for persons with disabilities.

Read more here.

EMEA: Oman: New regulations for remote work in the private sector

Oman's 2025 new remote work regulations which came into effect September 9th, require private-sector employers to formalize remote work agreements, provide necessary equipment, and monitor performance, while employees must follow set hours, maintain confidentiality, and may be called back on-site if needed.

Read more here.

Spain: New regulation on the extension and flexibility of birth and childcare leave (update)

On 11 September the official gazette published the regulation (Royal Decree-Law 9/2025 in Spain) which extends birth and childcare leave by an additional three weeks under the Workers’ Statute, introduces a more flexible structure (parents may take leave consecutively or intermittently), and maintains ordinary income during the leave.

Read more here.

Ireland: Advancement of the Retirement Ages Bill

Ireland’s 2025 Retirement Ages Bill lets employees refuse early retirement if their contractual retirement age is below the State Pension Age, while employers must provide objective justification to enforce it, with penalties for violations. It is currently progressing through the legislative process and is expected to come into force later this year.

Read more here.

On September 21, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced significant income tax reforms aimed at providing relief to taxpayers.

Effective from the 2025-26 assessment year, individuals with annual incomes up to ₹12 lakh will be exempt from income tax, a substantial increase from the previous threshold of ₹2 lakh.

This change is part of the broader "GST Bachat Utsav" initiative, which also includes a simplified Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure with two primary slabs: 5% and 18% and reduced rates on essential items.

The combined impact of these reforms is expected to result in annual savings exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore for the public.

Read more here.

Payroll Guide

The Complete Payroll Guide for India

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With the current payroll talent shortage, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for payroll professionals. Here is an overview of some current payroll and compliance job openings.

Payroll Specialist – Coursera

The Payroll Specialist at Coursera, based in the U.S., manages accurate and timely payroll for U.S. and Canadian employees. The role includes collaborating with People Operations, ensuring compliance with tax regulations, and working with payroll vendors. Candidates should have payroll experience, attention to detail, and proficiency in payroll systems.

Find more details here.

Global Payroll Solution Architect – kyndryl

The Global Payroll Solution Architect at Kyndryl, based in Bengaluru, India (hybrid), manages global payroll system architecture, integrations, and vendor collaborations. The role requires 5+ years of payroll application experience, expertise in integration workflows, and incident resolution, with preferred knowledge of SAP Payroll, Workday, ADP, and tools like LeanIX and Draw.io.

Find more details here.

Regional Payroll Manager - Neeyamo

The Regional Payroll Manager based in Pune, India oversees payroll operations across Latin America, managing a team and vendor relationships. Responsibilities include ensuring timely payroll processing, improving service delivery, and managing budgets. Candidates should have 12+ years in payroll, HR, or finance, with multi-country payroll experience and strong communication skills.

Find more details here.

Payroll is all about numbers. Here are some interesting facts and stats from the global payroll space.

UK businesses cut jobs at fastest pace in four years over summer, Bank of England finds

Between June and August 2025, UK businesses reduced employment at an annual rate of 0.5%, the fastest pace in four years, according to a Bank of England survey of 2,130 CFOs. This decline was primarily attributed to a £25 billion increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) introduced in April 2025. In response, 66% of firms reported lowering profit margins, 34% raised prices, and 20% limited wage growth. Future employment expectations also weakened, with projected annual job growth falling to just 0.2%.

Learn more here.

Record Wages in Brazil

In June 2025, Brazil's average real monthly income reached a record high of R$3,486, surpassing the previous peak of R$3,294 in February 2025. This milestone reflects a 7% real wage increase since the pandemic, positioning Brazil as a global leader in wage growth. Additionally, the real wage bill (the total compensation paid to all workers) hit a record R$354.6 billion in the quarter ending May 2025, marking a 5.8% year-over-year increase

Learn more here.

California Payroll Conference 2025

The 2025 California Payroll Conference from October 15 to 17 in Long Beach, themed “Payroll Under Pressure”, will focus on real-time payroll challenges and provide tailored sessions across selective learning tracks. Attendees can earn certificates by completing track-specific classes and receive targeted insights from industry experts. The event also supports networking and offers credits for professional certification.

Learn more here.

CIPP's Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025

On October 1st to 2nd, the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals’ Annual Conference and Exhibition (short: ACE) is happening in Wales. It is one of the must-attend events in the payroll industry, offering attendees a unique opportunity to stay informed about the latest trends, regulations, and best practices. Possible keynote topics include legislation and compliance, technology advancements, and global payroll trends.

Learn more here.

GPA's "Payroll Symposium" in London

The GPA London Symposium is a free event hosted by the Global Payroll Association, scheduled for 7th October at the Rosewood London. This symposium brings together payroll and HR professionals for an afternoon of insightful discussions, networking, and collaboration. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in sessions led by industry experts.

Learn more and sign up here.

GPA's "Payroll Professional's Guide to Navigating & Leading Trough Change" Webinar

The webinar on October 28, is designed to equip payroll professionals with the tools and strategies necessary to effectively manage and lead through organizational changes. It focuses on understanding change management principles, addressing the challenges faced during transitions, and implementing best practices to ensure smooth payroll operations amidst change.

Learn more and sign up here.

Lano Blog

Top payroll conferences and congresses to attend in 2025

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There’s a surprising amount of free high-quality resources available to payroll professionals, and new interesting reads and articles get published every month. Here’s a selection of some new publications, must-listen podcast episodes, and blogs from the global payroll industry.

Article: Rethinking Payroll - How AI Is Transforming One Of HR’s Most Critical Functions

The article published by Forbes on September 2, 2025, delves into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on payroll operations. It highlights how AI is automating routine tasks, enhancing accuracy, and improving compliance, thereby reshaping payroll from a back-office function to a strategic asset within HR departments.

Read it here.

Podcast: A Blast from Payroll Past with Special Guest Heather Stevenson

In the newest episode of the HR & Payroll 2.0 podcast, host Pete Tiliakos reconnects with Heather Stevenson, Senior Product Manager at UKG. Together, they reflect on their early careers at The Walt Disney Company, sharing stories of the challenges and transformations they faced in modernizing HR and payroll systems. Heather discusses her journey from processing pay for entertainers to developing next-generation HCM products, emphasizing how AI is streamlining workflows and enhancing the practitioner experience in today's HR landscape.

Listen to it here.

Newsletter: September 2025 Payroll Vault

The September 2025 edition of News from the Vault by Payroll Vault provides payroll professionals with a Payroll Calculation Guide, tips for accounting firms, and a spotlight on Timekeeping solutions to streamline payroll, reduce errors, and ensure compliance.

Read and subscribe to it here.

Have you recently written or read a great article or discovered another great resource we should know about? Write to us and we will include you in our next Global Payroll and Compliance News Update.