Class 3 National Insurance

Class 3 National Insurance is a voluntary payment that you can make if you have gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record and you want to qualify for the state pension.

But not everyone is eligible to pay Class 3 National Insurance. Take a look at the table below to see what you’d be eligible to pay based on your employment status.

Employment status What do I pay?
Employed and earning < £123 – but not eligible for National Insurance credits Class 3
Self-employed with profits < £6,725 Class 2 or Class 3 (depending on the benefits you want to be eligible for)
Self-employed with profits > £6,725 Class 2 (scrapped from 6 April 2024)
You’re employed and have a side hustle but with low earnings and small profits Contact HMRC on 0300-200-3519
You’re a self-employed examiner, religious minister or have an investment, land or property business Class 2 or Class 3 (depending on the benefits you want to be eligible for)
You live and work abroad Class 3 – if you’ve lived in the UK for 3 consecutive years/paid 3 years of contributions
Unemployed but not claiming benefits Class 3
A married woman or widow no longer paying reduced rates Class 3
Living (but not working) abroad Class 3 – if you’ve lived in the UK for 3 consecutive years/paid 3 years of contributions

Frequently Asked Questions

Search More Terms

News & Insights

Uncategorized
New 4 hours ago

Freelancer Tax Tips UK

The financial challenges of freelancing are often a burden most people don’t anticipate. Over the years, the prices ch...
The financial challenges of freelancing are often a burden most people don’t anticipate. Over the years, the prices charged are increasing faster than the personal tax rate bands. As a result of this, freelancers who would have ...
Tax
2 weeks ago

VAT Filing Deadlines 2025 and How to Prepare

What are the VAT filing deadlines UK 2025, how do you prepare for VAT compliance and what is VAT? Value Added Tax (VAT) ...
What are the VAT filing deadlines UK 2025, how do you prepare for VAT compliance and what is VAT? Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax added to goods and services sold by businesses that are registered for VAT. Businesses in the UK, hav...
Tax
1 month ago

VAT Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Completing VAT returns can be challenging for small business owners, with substantial legislation and rules complicating...
Completing VAT returns can be challenging for small business owners, with substantial legislation and rules complicating matters further. It can be quite easy to make a mistake if you are not well versed in UK VAT legislation. At ...
Tax
1 month ago

HMRC Voluntary Disclosure Guide

Whether you are self-employed or run your own business, managing taxes can be daunting. Occasionally mistakes can happen...
Whether you are self-employed or run your own business, managing taxes can be daunting. Occasionally mistakes can happen, but fortunately HMRC allow you an opportunity to rectify any mistakes through a voluntary disclosure. This a...
Tax
1 month ago

Financial Consulting Services

Financial consulting services cover a range of advisory activities designed to help companies manage finances effectivel...
Financial consulting services cover a range of advisory activities designed to help companies manage finances effectively. An accountant can provide this, with the expertise and knowledge needed to help you manage finances. The pr...
Tax
1 month ago

Tax on Instagram Earnings: A Guide for Content Creators

UK tax on Instagram earnings is something most creators fail to account for. Instagram has become more than just a place...
UK tax on Instagram earnings is something most creators fail to account for. Instagram has become more than just a place to share videos. It’s an avenue for content creators to monetise their creativity. Whether you’re...
Expert Piece
1 month ago

Budget 2024 Impact on Businesses

The Autumn Budget 2024 will have an impact on businesses in the UK. As announced, taxes are set to rise by £40 billion,...
The Autumn Budget 2024 will have an impact on businesses in the UK. As announced, taxes are set to rise by £40 billion, with a substantial £25 billion coming from increased employers’ national insurance contributions. This...
Expert Piece
2 months ago

Why A VAT Rate Cut Could Save The Hospitality Industry 

If you own a business in the hospitality industry you are likely being crucified with high VAT bills which seem to decim...
If you own a business in the hospitality industry you are likely being crucified with high VAT bills which seem to decimate your cash reserves each quarter. Across the UK many businesses are feeling the squeeze of the cost-of-livi...
Load More View All

Subscribe Now

Receive our latest news & insights directly to your fingertips.