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National Insurance contributions (NIC) - rates and allowances

2021/22

  • Employees start paying Class 1 NIC from age 16 (if sufficient earnings).
  • Employers pay Class 1 NIC in accordance with the table below.
  • Employer NIC for employees under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25 is reduced from the normal rate of 13.8% to 0% up to the Upper Secondary Threshold of £967 per week. Also applies to veterans in the first 12 months of employment.
  • Employees' Class 1 NIC stop when they reach their State Pension age. The employer's contribution continues.

Employees - Class 1 - 2021/22

Earnings per week %
Up to £184 Nil
£184.01 - £967 12
Over £967 2

Entitlement to state pension and other contribution-based benefits is retained for earnings between £120 and £184 per week.

Employers - Class 1 - 2021/22

Earnings per week %
Up to £170 Nil
Over £170 13.8

Other National Insurance payable by employers

Class 1A - 13.8% on broadly all taxable benefits provided to employees and on certain taxable termination and sporting testimonial payments in excess of £30,000

Class 1B - 13.8% on taxable PAYE Settlement Agreements

Self-employed - Class 2 and 4

  • A self-employed person starts paying Class 2 and Class 4 NIC from 16 or over (if sufficient profits)
  • Class 2 NIC stop when a person reaches State Pension age
  • Class 4 NIC stop from the start of the tax year after the one in which the person reaches State Pension age.

Self-employed - Class 2 - 2021/22

Flat rate per week £3.05
Small Profits Threshold £6,515 per year

No Class 2 is due if the amount of trading profits assessable to income tax and Class 4 NIC is below this figure. However, a person might decide to carry on paying Class 2 voluntarily to accrue entitlement to the State Pension and entitlement to other benefits.  

Class 4 - 2021/22

Annual profits %
Up to £9,568 Nil
£9,568.01 - £50,270 9
Over £50,270 2

Class 3

  • A person needs 35 years (30 years if State Pension age is before 6 April 2016) of NIC to get a full State Pension.
  • Class 3 voluntary contributions can be paid to fill or avoid gaps in a NI record.

Class 3 - 2021/22

Flat rate per week £15.40

220/21

  • Employees start paying Class 1 NIC from age 16 (if sufficient earnings).
  • Employers pay Class 1 NIC in accordance with the table below.
  • Employer NIC for employees under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25 is reduced from the normal rate of 13.8% to 0% up to the Upper Secondary Threshold of £962.
  • Employees' Class 1 NIC stop when they reach their State Pension age . The employer's contribution continues.

Employees - Class 1 - 2020/21

Earnings per week %
Up to £183 Nil
£183.01 - £962 12
Over £962 2

Entitlement to state pension and other contribution-based benefits is retained for earnings between £120 and £183 per week.

Employers - Class 1 - 2020/21

Earnings per week %
Up to £169 Nil
Over £169 13.8

Other National Insurance payable by employers

Class 1A - 13.8% on broadly all taxable benefits provided to employees and on certain taxable termination and sporting testimonial payments in excess of £30,000

Class 1B - 13.8% on taxable PAYE Settlement Agreements

Self-employed - Class 2 and 4

  • A self-employed person starts paying Class 2 and Class 4 NIC from 16 or over (if sufficient profits)
  • Class 2 NIC stop when a person reaches State Pension age
  • Class 4 NIC stop from the start of the tax year after the one in which the person reaches State Pension age.

Self-employed - Class 2 - 2020/21

Flat rate per week £3.05
Small Profits Threshold £6,475 per year

No Class 2 is due if the amount of trading profits assessable to income tax and Class 4 NIC is below this figure. However, a person might decide to carry on paying Class 2 voluntarily to accrue entitlement to the State Pension and entitlement to other benefits.

Class 4 - 2020/21

Annual profits %
Up to £9,500 Nil
£9,500.01 - £50,000 9
Over £50,000 2

Class 3

  • A person needs 35 years (30 years if State Pension age is before 6 April 2016) of NIC to get a full State Pension.
  • Class 3 voluntary contributions can be paid to fill or avoid gaps in a NI record.

Class 3 - 2020/21

Flat rate per week £15.30