National Insurance

National Insurance – Rates and Allowances2024-252023-24
Lower weekly earnings limit, primary Class 1£123£123
Upper weekly earnings limit, primary Class 1£967£967
Primary weekly earnings threshold£242£242
Secondary weekly earnings threshold£175£175
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate between primary earnings threshold and upper earnings limit8%Between 6 April 2023 and 5 January 2024: 12%Between 6 January 2024 and 5 April 2024: 10%
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate above upper earnings limit2%2%
Married women’s reduced rate between primary earnings threshold and upper earnings limit1.85%Between 6 April 2023 and 5 January 2024: 5.85%Between 6 January 2024 and 5 April 2024: 3.85%
Married women’s rate above upper earnings limit2%2%
Employers’ secondary Class 1 rate above secondary earnings threshold13.80%13.80%
Class 2 weekly rate£3.45£3.45
Special Class 2 weekly rate for share fishermen£4.10£4.10
Special Class 2 weekly rate for volunteer development workers£6.15£6.15
Class 3 voluntary weekly rate£17.45£17.45
Class 4 lower profits limit£12,570£12,570
Class 4 upper profits limit£50,270 per year£50,270 per year
Class 4 rate between lower profits limit and upper profits limit6%9%
Class 4 rate above upper profits limit2%2%

A National Insurance tax free allowance of £5,000 (2023-24: £5,000) is available to offset against employers’ Class 1 secondary NICs subject to certain restrictions.
The allowance is restricted to employers with employer NIC liabilities of under £100,000.
No employers’ contributions are payable in respect of weekly earnings up to £967 paid to employees under 21 nor for qualifying apprentices aged under 25.

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