Keeping in Touch (KIT) Days on Maternity Leave: How Pay and Tax Work (2026)
How Keeping in Touch days work during maternity, adoption or shared parental leave, how they're paid on top of statutory pay, and how the combined pay is taxed in 2026/27.
What a KIT Day Actually Allows
Keeping in Touch days are a specific, limited exception to the general rule that working during maternity, adoption or shared parental leave ends the leave itself. They exist so an employee can stay connected with their workplace β attending an important meeting, a training day, or covering a short piece of work β without that automatically bringing their leave, or their Statutory Maternity Pay for that week, to an end. It's entirely optional on both sides: neither the employer nor the employee can insist on a KIT day being used.
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Up to 10 KIT days are generally available during a period of Statutory Maternity Leave, with a separate allowance of Shared Parental Leave in Touch (SPLIT) days available if the leave is later split under Shared Parental Leave arrangements. There's no statutory minimum length for a KIT day itself β working just a couple of hours still generally uses up one whole KIT day from the allowance, which is worth keeping in mind before agreeing to a short piece of work that might not feel worth "spending" a full day's allocation on.
How Pay on a KIT Day Is Taxed
Whatever an employee is paid for a KIT day β whether that's their normal salary for the hours worked, an agreed flat rate, or simply their Statutory Maternity Pay continuing as normal for that week with no extra payment β is taxed through the standard PAYE system exactly like any other earnings, with Income Tax and National Insurance deducted in the usual way. There's no special tax-free treatment for KIT day pay specifically; the tax mechanics are entirely ordinary.
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Because working beyond the maximum permitted number of KIT (or SPLIT) days is generally treated as bringing the leave period to an end, it's important to track usage carefully rather than agreeing to "just one more day" without checking the running total. Ending leave early in this way can have knock-on effects for remaining leave entitlement and pay, so any request for additional work beyond the standard allowance is worth discussing properly with your employer, and confirming in writing, before agreeing.
Checklist
- Confirm how many KIT (or SPLIT) days you've already used before agreeing to another
- Agree the specific pay arrangement for a KIT day with your employer in advance
- Remember KIT day pay is taxed through normal PAYE, with no special tax-free treatment
- Avoid exceeding the maximum permitted days, since this can end your leave early
This article is general information, not financial or tax advice. Figures use 2026/27 UK Statutory Maternity Pay and PAYE rules.
Frequently asked questions
What are Keeping in Touch (KIT) days?
KIT days let someone on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave work up to a set number of days during their leave β for example attending a training session, a team meeting or covering a specific short project β without automatically ending their leave or their entitlement to Statutory Maternity Pay for that week.
How many KIT days are allowed during maternity leave?
Up to 10 KIT days are allowed during Statutory Maternity Leave, and a further set of Shared Parental Leave in Touch (SPLIT) days may be available if the leave is later shared, though the specific number and rules can vary, so it's worth checking current gov.uk guidance and your employer's own policy.
Is there a minimum time an employee must work on a KIT day?
No fixed statutory minimum applies to a KIT day's length β it could be a couple of hours or a full working day, and using even part of a day generally counts as one whole KIT day, so it's worth being clear on this with your employer before agreeing to a specific arrangement.
How is pay for a KIT day taxed?
Pay for a KIT day, whether it's ordinary salary, an agreed rate, or simply Statutory Maternity Pay continuing for that week, is taxed through the normal PAYE system in exactly the same way as any other earnings, with Income Tax and National Insurance deducted as usual.
Do I lose my Statutory Maternity Pay for a week I use a KIT day?
No β using a KIT day doesn't automatically end your entitlement to Statutory Maternity Pay for that week. Many employers pay SMP as normal alongside a separate payment for the actual work done, though the exact arrangement depends on your employer's specific KIT day policy, so it's worth checking this in advance.
What happens if I use more than the maximum number of KIT days?
Working beyond the maximum number of permitted KIT days is generally treated as ending your maternity leave, which can have knock-on effects for your remaining leave entitlement and pay, so it's important to track how many days you've used and agree any additional work carefully with your employer beforehand.
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