National insurance
National Insurance is run by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
What is National Insurance
National Insurance is basically a tax on employment like income tax but the funds are paid towards benefits. Some of the benefits, for example state pension, are only available if the person has made sufficient National Insurance Contributions. Funds from NI Contributions also help to pay for the National Health Service and other benefits such as Maternity Pay, Sick Pay etc.
National Insurance Classes
Class 1
Both Employees and Employers pay class 1 contributions
Class 1A
Paid by employers for certain employee benefits such as company cars
Class 2
Self Employed Contributions based on income taken
Class 3
Voluntary Contributions to enable people to catch up on missing payments required to reach entitlement for state pension
Class 4
Self Employed Contributions based on end of year profits
National Insurance Rates
Read more information on Contracted In and Contracted Out Rates.
Employers National Insurance Rates
Employers also contribute towards the NI of their employees but this does not come out of employee salary. Employers NI rates are:-
2008 to 2009
12.8% for employees earning above £105 per week
2009 to 2010
12.8% for employees earning above £110 per week
Class 1A NICs
Employers also have to pay class 1a NICs once a year for benefits provided to employees. The current rate is 12.8%
What is State Second Pension?
State Second Pension or S2P replaces SERPS. S2P started from 6 April 2002 and the Upper accruals point starts in 2009-2010 at £770 per week. S2P's are paid in addition to the state pension, to learn more about S2P then our Pensions guide should provide you will more information.
Comments
with a mans contributing years being reduced from 44 to 30 in april 2010, does that mean that i do not have to make anymore ni payments having clocked up about 40 or does it not work retrospectively. thanks .doug
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2 years ago by douglas@douglasbannister.orang