Fast payment option

This page explains the fast payment option for employers who have been issued with a civil penalty for employing illegal migrant workers. It also explains how employers who qualify for the fast payment option can pay a reduced civil penalty if we receive the total reduced penalty within 21 days of the date we specify on the notice of liability for a civil penalty.

Qualifying for the fast payment option

The fast payment option will be available for new notices of liability we issue on or after 6 June 2012. The reduced payment under the fast payment option will be 20 per cent less than the full penalty would have been.

The fast payment option will be available to employers who have:

  • not been issued with a warning letter or a notice of liability for a civil penalty within the past three years;
  • cooperated with our enforcement officers; and
  • been found employing no more than two illegal workers.

If an employer qualifies for the fast payment option, we will send them a notice of liability for a civil penalty that shows both the full penalty and the reduced penalty.

If an employer does not qualify for the fast payment option we will send them a notice of liability for a civil penalty that shows the full penalty amount.

If an employer qualifies for the fast payment option and we do not receive the total reduced penalty within 21 days of the date specified on the notice of liability for a civil penalty they will no longer be eligible for the fast payment option and they will have to pay the full penalty.

Objections and appeals against the civil penalty

If an employer objects to the penalty and we then reduce the penalty, we will issue a revised notification of liability for a civil penalty and a letter to explain our decision. The employer can still take advantage of the fast payment option as long the original notice of liability was issued on or after 6 June 2012 and they meet the requirements in the paragraphs above. The employer will have to pay the penalty within 21 days of the specified date on the revised notice of liability for a civil penalty.

If an employer successfully objects to the penalty by showing that they are not the person or organisation that is liable to pay it, we will investigate to find out who is liable. We will offer the fast payment option to the liable employer if we issue the new notice of liability on or after 6 June 2012 and the liable employer meets the requirements above.

If an employer objects to the penalty and we do not reduce the penalty we will send a letter to explain that the objection has been unsuccessful. The employer will no longer be able to take advantage of the fast payment option.

If an employer appeals against a notice of liability, they will not be able to take advantage of the fast payment option.

How to pay

Information on how to pay a civil penalty is included in the information letter we send with the notice of liability for a civil penalty. An employer can also pay the civil penalty by contacting the Home Office Order 2 Cash Team on 01633 581 801.

The fast payment option requires full payment of the penalty by the specified date, so we do not offer instalment plans for the reduced payment.