Minimum wage compliance checker

Check any hourly rate against the National Minimum and National Living Wage - for both the current year and the April 2026 uplift, so you find out before HMRC does.

The worker

If you leave this blank we require the 21-and-over rate, which is the safe assumption.

Verdict

£12.00/hour is below the National Minimum Wage of £12.71/hour for the 21 and over (National Living Wage) band (in force from 01 April 2026). If this employee is an apprentice in the first year of their apprenticeship, the apprentice rate of £8.00/hour applies instead.

All bands, both years

Rates verified through 2026/27. Tips and service charge cannot count towards the minimum wage.

Common questions

What is the National Living Wage for 2026/27?

From 1 April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour, up from £12.21. The 18 to 20 rate rises to £10.85, and the under-18 and apprentice rates rise to £8.00.

What is the difference between the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage?

The National Living Wage is the top band of the National Minimum Wage and applies to workers aged 21 and over. Younger workers and apprentices have their own lower minimum bands. Both are legal minimums set by government, and are separate from the voluntary Real Living Wage.

When does the apprentice rate apply?

The apprentice rate applies to apprentices aged under 19, and to apprentices aged 19 and over who are in the first year of their apprenticeship. After that first year an apprentice aged 19 or over moves onto the rate for their age band.

What happens if I underpay the minimum wage?

HMRC can require you to repay arrears at current rates and issue a penalty of up to 200% of the underpayment, capped at £20,000 per worker. Employers who underpay can also be named publicly. Tips and service charge cannot be counted towards minimum wage.

Do age band changes apply immediately on a birthday?

The new rate applies from the start of the pay reference period following the birthday, not the birthday itself. So if someone turns 21 mid-month on monthly pay, the higher rate starts the following month.

Checking rates one worker at a time?

Zynthio HR checks every employee's rate against their age band automatically, flags anyone who falls below the minimum, and warns you before the April uplift catches a team out.