- 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 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 - 2026/27
| Earnings per week | % |
|---|---|
| Up to £242* | Nil |
| £242.01 - £967 | 8 |
| Over £967 | 2 |
Entitlement to state pension and other contribution-based benefits is retained for earnings between £129 and £242 per week.
Employers - Class 1 - 2026/27
| Earnings per week | % |
|---|---|
| Up to £96 | Nil |
| Over £96 |
15 |
Other National Insurance payable by employers
Class 1A - 15% on broadly all taxable benefits provided to employees and on certain taxable termination payments in excess of £30,000
Class 1B - 15% 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.
- From 6 April 2024, there is no longer a requirement to pay Class 2. Voluntary contributions can still be made.
- 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 - 2026/27
| Flat rate per week | £3.65 |
| Small Profits Threshold | £7,105 per year |
| Lower Profits Limit | n/a |
A self-employed person with profits below the Small Profits Threshold might decide to carry on paying Class 2 voluntarily to accrue entitlement to the State Pension and other benefits.
Class 4 - 2026/27
| Annual profits | % |
|---|---|
| Up to £12,570 | Nil |
| £12,570.01 - £50,270 | 6 |
| 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 - 2026/27
Flat rate per week £18.40
- 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 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 - 2025/26
| Earnings per week | % |
|---|---|
| Up to £242* | Nil |
| £242.01 - £967 | 8 |
| Over £967 | 2 |
Entitlement to state pension and other contribution-based benefits is retained for earnings between £125 and £242 per week.
Employers - Class 1 - 2025/26
| Earnings per week | % |
|---|---|
| Up to £96 | Nil |
| Over £96 |
15 |
Other National Insurance payable by employers
Class 1A - 15% on broadly all taxable benefits provided to employees and on certain taxable termination payments in excess of £30,000
Class 1B - 15% 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.
- From 6 April 2024, there is no longer a requirement to pay Class 2. Voluntary contributions can still be made.
- 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 - 2025/26
| Flat rate per week | £3.50 |
| Small Profits Threshold | £6,845 per year |
| Lower Profits Limit | n/a |
A self-employed person with profits below the Small Profits Threshold might decide to carry on paying Class 2 voluntarily to accrue entitlement to the State Pension and other benefits.
Class 4 - 2025/26
| Annual profits | % |
|---|---|
| Up to £12,570 | Nil |
| £12,570.01 - £50,270 | 6 |
| 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 - 2025/26
Flat rate per week £17.75