Class 1 National Insurance

Paid by Employees and Employers

Class 1 Bands

£ per month2023 to 20246 July 2022 to 5 April 20236 April 2022 to 5 July 20222021 to 20222020 to 2021
Lower Earnings Limit (LEL)
Employees do not pay National Insurance
but get the benefits of paying
£533£533£533£520£520
Primary Threshold (PT)
Employees start paying National Insurance
£1,048£1,048£823£797£792
Secondary Threshold (ST)
Employers start paying National Insurance
£758£758£758£737£732
Upper Earnings Limit (UEL)
All employees pay a lower rate of National Insurance
above this point
£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,167
Upper Secondary Threshold (UST)
Employers of employees who are under 21 pay zero rate
up to this point
£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,167
Apprentice Upper Secondary Threshold (AUST)
Employers of certain apprentices
who are under 25 pay zero rate
up to this point
£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,167
Freeports Upper Secondary Threshold (FUST)
Employers of qualifying
employees working in a
freeport site pay zero rate
up to this point
£2,083£2,083£2,083N/AN/A
Veterans Upper Secondary Threshold (VUST)
Employers of qualifying
employees pay zero rate
up to this point
£4,189£4,189£4,189£4,189N/A

Employee rates

This table shows how much employers deduct from employees’ pay.

2023 to 2024From 6 November 2022 to 5 April 2023From 6 April 2022 to 5 November 20222021 to 20222020 to 2021
Between Primary Threshold and Upper Earnings Limit12%12%13.25%12%12%
Above Upper Earnings Limit2%2%3.25%2%2%
Married women’s reduced rate between primary threshold and upper earnings limit5.85%5.85%7.1%5.85%5.85%
Rate for employees deferring National Insurance2%2%3.25%2%2%

For 2022 to 2023, the National Insurance contributions rates for directors are different. Read CA44 to find out more about rates for directors.

Employer rates

This table shows how much employers pay towards their employees’ National Insurance.

2023 to 2024From 6 November 2022 to 5 April 2023From 6 April 2022 to 5 November 20222021 to 20222020 to 2021
Rate above the Secondary Threshold13.8%13.8%15.05%13.8%13.8%
Rate below Upper Secondary Threshold0%0%0%0%0%
Rate below Apprentice Upper Secondary Threshold0%0%0%0%0%
Class 1A rate on expenses and benefits13.8%14.53%15.05%13.8%13.8%