Bermuda Payroll & Social Contributions

Payroll tax

Payroll tax is Bermuda's principal tax on employment income, levied under the Payroll Tax Act 1995 and the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995. It has an employer portion and an employee portion (which the employer may deduct from pay but remains liable to remit). Remuneration is capped at BMD 1,000,000 per person per year. Rates are set annually in the Budget; the values below should be confirmed against the gov.bm tables for the 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 year.

• Governing legislation — Payroll Tax Act 1995 and Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995 (Payroll Tax Act 1995; Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995)
• Taxable remuneration cap — BMD 1,000,000 per person per annum BMD (Payroll Tax Act 1995)
• Tax structure — Two portions — employer portion (on gross taxable remuneration) and employee portion (progressive across remuneration bands); employer is liable to remit the full amount (Payroll Tax Act 1995)
• Employer portion rate (standard, large employers) — Tiered by total annual remuneration of the employer; top standard band around 10.25% percent ((approx — confirm 2025-26 employer band table)) (Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995)
• Employer portion rate (small employers) — Reduced employer rates apply to smaller payrolls and exempt undertakings; lowest bands around 1.50%-5.25% percent ((approx — confirm 2025-26 employer band table)) (Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995)
• Employee portion — Band 1 (first BMD 48,000) — 0.50% on the first BMD 48,000 of annual remuneration percent ((confirm 2025-26 band thresholds)) (Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995)
• Employee portion — Band 2 — 9.25% on remuneration above BMD 48,000 up to the next band threshold percent ((approx — confirm 2025-26 band table and upper threshold)) (Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995)
• Employee portion — band structure — Progressive (marginal) across 5 bands, with higher marginal rates on higher remuneration up to the BMD 1,000,000 cap ((confirm 5-band rates for 2025-26)) (Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995)
• Payroll tax filing & payment frequency — Quarterly returns and payment to the Office of the Tax Commissioner; due within 15 days after each quarter end ((confirm current due date)) (Payroll Tax Act 1995)
• Social insurance (contributory pension) total contribution — BMD 75.30 per week (combined employer + employee) BMD/week (Contributory Pensions Act 1970)
• Social insurance split — Employer pays 50% (BMD 37.65/week) and employee pays 50% (BMD 37.65/week) for workers aged 16-64 BMD/week (Contributory Pensions Act 1970)
• Social insurance — employees aged 65+ — Only the employer portion is due; no employee contribution (Contributory Pensions Act 1970)
• Social insurance remittance deadline — Employer billed monthly; payment due by the last Friday of that month (Contributory Pensions Act 1970)
• Occupational (private) pension contribution — Mandatory for Bermudians/spouses under the National Pension Scheme; typically 5% employer + 5% employee of pensionable earnings percent ((approx — confirm current rate)) (National Pension Scheme (Occupational Pensions) Act 1998)