National Insurance

When you're self-employed in the UK, you pay National Insurance contributions differently from employees. Instead of automatic deductions from your pay, you'll pay Class 2 and Class 4 contributions based on your annual profits, usually through your Self Assessment tax return.

4 min read

National Insurance is a system of contributions paid by workers in the UK to qualify for certain state benefits and the State Pension. Whether you pay it, which type you pay, and how much depends on your employment status and earnings. Understanding the basics will help you know what to expect on...

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If you're not working—whether due to unemployment, illness, caring responsibilities, or other reasons—you may worry about gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record affecting your State Pension and benefits. The good news is that in many situations, your NI record can be auto...

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Paying voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions can help you fill gaps in your NI record and protect your entitlement to the State Pension and certain benefits. There are two types you might pay: Class 2 (mainly for self-employed people) and Class 3 (for employees and o...

7 min read