National Insurance

National Insurance – Rates and Allowances2020-212019-20
Lower weekly earnings limit, primary Class 1£120£118
Upper weekly earnings limit, primary Class 1£962£962
Primary weekly earnings threshold£183£166
Secondary weekly earnings threshold£169£166
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate between primary earnings threshold and upper earnings limit12%12%
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate above upper earnings limit2%2%
Married women’s reduced rate between primary earnings threshold and upper earnings limit5.85%5.85%
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£3.05£3.00
Class 2 small earnings exception£6,475 per year£6,365 per year
Special Class 2 weekly rate for share fishermen£3.70£3.65
Special Class 2 weekly rate for volunteer development workers£6.00£5.90
Class 3 voluntary weekly rate£15.30£15.00
Class 4 lower profits limit£9,500 per year£8,632 per year
Class 4 upper profits limit£50,000 per year£50,000 per year
Class 4 rate between lower profits limit and upper profits limit9%9%
Class 4 rate above upper profits limit2%2%

A National Insurance tax free allowance of £4,000 (2019-20: £3,000) is available to offset against employers’ Class 1 secondary NICs subject to certain restrictions.

From 2020/21, 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 £962 paid to employees under 21 nor for qualifying apprentices aged under 25. 

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