National Insurance
National Insurance – Rates and Allowances | 2020-21 | 2019-20 |
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 limit | 12% | 12% |
Employees’ primary Class 1 rate above upper earnings limit | 2% | 2% |
Married women’s reduced rate between primary earnings threshold and upper earnings limit | 5.85% | 5.85% |
Married women’s rate above upper earnings limit | 2% | 2% |
Employers’ secondary Class 1 rate above secondary earnings threshold | 13.80% | 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 limit | 9% | 9% |
Class 4 rate above upper profits limit | 2% | 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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