Class 1 National Insurance

Class 1 National Insurance (NI) is a tax that you pay when you’re employed. There are multiple types of National Insurance that we’re liable to pay in the UK, depending on our employment status.

Take a look at the different types below:

How does it work?

It’s 10% of your salary after you start earning £242 per year. This amount then drops to 2% once you earn over £50,270 a year. Earning over £50,270 makes you a Higher Rate earner.

Main Points To Remember

• You don’t need to pay this yourself – your employer will automatically take it out of your salary every month via PAYE
• On top of Class 1 National Insurance, there is a separate contribution that employers pay: Class 1A or Class 1B
• Class 1A/1B don’t come out of your salary, they are your employer’s responsibility
• Your employer will deduct Class 1 National Insurance even if you earn under the Personal Allowance
• If you’re both employed and self-employed (e.g. you have a side gig), you’ll pay both Class 1 NI and Class 2 (and potentially even Class 4) National Insurance