NI rates hiked – how much more will workers pay?
Posted on: 10-09-2021
NI rates hiked – how much more will workers pay?
MONTHLY FOCUS: NI RATES HIKED – how much more will workers pay?
Earlier today (7 September) Boris Johnson announced that NI and dividend tax rates will be hiked to help fund social care, pay for coronavirus support measures and clear the NHS backlog. Who will be affected and by how much?
Firstly, NI rates will increase by 1.25% from April 2022. This will apply to both primary and secondary Class 1 contributions, which will increase to 13.25% and 3.25% for earnings up to, and above, the upper earnings limit respectively. Class 4 rates will also increase to 10.25% and 3.25%. The additional 1.25% will be carved out as a separate levy from April 2023 – essentially it will be a new tax.
To illustrate what this will mean for employees, the following table is a useful reference, assuming the current NI thresholds apply:
| Salary | Current NI bill | Expected increased NI bill | Change |
| £15,000.00 | £651.84 | £719.74 | £67.90 |
| £25,000.00 | £1,851.84 | £2,044.74 | £192.90 |
| £35,000.00 | £3,051.84 | £3,369.74 | £317.90 |
| £45,000.00 | £4,251.84 | £4,694.74 | £442.90 |
| £55,000.00 | £4,951.84 | £5,519.74 | £567.90 |
Secondly, the dividend tax rates will also increase by 1.25%, i.e. to 8.75%, 33.75% and 39.35% for basic, higher and additional rate taxpayers respectively.
If you need assistance with your personal tax or calculating your payroll, please call us on 0161 872 8671.
Update from HMRC
Dear customer,
Yesterday the government announced tax changes to fund £12 billion a year to be spent on the NHS and social care across the UK.
National Insurance contributions (NICs) will increase by 1.25% for one year only for employees, employers and the self-employed from April 2022. This will cover both Class 1 (employee and employer), Class 1A and 1B and Class 4 (self-employed) NICs. Those above State Pension Age are not impacted by the April 2022 changes.
From April 2023, a new ringfenced Health and Social Care Levy of 1.25% will be introduced which will apply to those who pay Class 1 (employee and employer), Class 1A and 1B and Class 4 (self-employed) NICs and will also be extended to those over State Pension age who are in work. When the new levy comes into effect, National Insurance rates will revert back to current levels.
The levy will also apply to individuals above State Pension age with employment income or profits from self-employment above £9,568.
The levy will be administered by HMRC and collected through the current reporting and collection procedures for NICs – Pay As You Earn and Income Tax Self Assessment.
Like National Insurance, levy contributions will apply UK-wide, people will pay the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From 2023-24, levy contributions will need to appear as a separate item on payslips. Where possible a generic message should be included payslips for the next tax year (2022-23). More information on payslip requirements will be available in due course.
The government will also increase by 1.25% from April 2022 the rate of income tax which is paid by people who receive dividend income from shares.
For more information please visit GOV.UK and search for ‘Our Plan for Health and Social Care‘.
Yours sincerely
Jim Harra
Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary – HMRC
If you would like any assistance with any of these points.