National Insurance

Table D   Rates and limits for 2012/13

Class 1
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
Lower Earnings Limit (LEL)
£107
£464
£5,564
Primary Threshold – employees (PT)
146
634
7,605
Secondary Threshold – employers (ST)
144
624
7,488
Upper Accrual Point (UAP)
770
3,337
40,040
Upper Earnings Limit – employees (UEL)
817
3,540
42,475

Employer’s Contribution
Contracted In Contracted Out
From 6th April 2012, only employment with a salary-related pension scheme can use the lower contracted-out NIC rates.
On earnings up to ST
Nil
Nil
On earnings between ST and UAP
13.8%
10.4%
On earnings above UAP
13.8%
13.8%

Employee’s Contribution
Contracted in: 12% on earnings between PT and UEL, 2% above UEL.
Contracted out: 10.6% on earnings between PT and UAP; 12% from UAP to UEL; 2% above UEL.
Earnings over LEL qualify for benefit, and must be reported under PAYE, but no NICs are payable until earnings reach PT.
The reduced Class 1 rate payable by certain married women and widows is 5.85% for earnings between PT and UEL, 2% above UEL.
Class 2 (Self-employed) Earnings over £5,595 per year £2.65 per week
Class 3 (Voluntary) No limit applicable £13.25 per week
Class 4 (Self-employed) Profits between £7,605 and £42,475 9%
Profits above £42,475 2%