Compact Services

Class 1 NIC thresholds 2017/18

	week	month	year
Lower earnings limit (LEL)	£113	£490	£5,876
Primary threshold (PT)	157	680	8,164
Secondary threshold (ST)	157	680	8,164
Upper secondary threshold (UST)	866	3,750	45,000
Upper earnings limit (UEL)	866	3,750	45,000

Notes

1. No NIC are payable by employee or employer on earnings up to the PT (employees) or ST (employer).
2. No employee NIC are payable once the employee reaches state retirement age, but employer NIC continue to be payable.
3. No employer NIC are payable on earnings up to the UST for employees aged under 21, or apprentices aged under 25, at the date of the payment.
4. No employee NIC are payable on earnings between the LEL and the PT, but when reported by the employer, the employee receives credit towards the State Pension.

Class 1 NIC rates 2017/18

	Employee	Employer
PT/ST to UEL	12.0%	13.8%
Above the UEL	2.0%	13.8%

Notes

1. Employers and employees both contribute at rates dependent on the level of earnings during a weekly, monthly or annual earnings period.
2. A person with more than one employment can defer the payment of some employee NIC until after the end of the tax year. The total amount payable is then checked and limited so the full 12% rate is only applied to income between the PT and the UEL.
3. An 'employment allowance' of £3,000 per qualifying business gives exemption from Class 1 Employer NIC. Some businesses are excluded, including certain sole director companies. Employee NIC are unaffected.

Class 2 NIC

Rates per week	2017/18	2016/17
Flat rate	£2.85	£2.80
Small profits threshold (SPT)	6,025	5,965

Notes

1. Self-employed people pay Class 2 NIC on their profits that exceed the SPT for the tax year.
2. Both Class 2 and Class 4 NIC are collected through self-assessment.

Class 3 NIC

Rates per week	2017/18	2016/17
Class 3 flat rate	£14.25	£14.10

Notes

1. Anyone not in work who wants to maintain State Pension rights may pay voluntary Class 3 NIC.

Class 4 NIC

Annual	2017/18	2016/17
Lower profits limit	£8,164	£8,060
Upper profits limit	45,000	43,000
Main rate	9.0%	9.0%
Additional rate	2.0%	2.0%

Notes

1. Class 4 NIC are payable on profits from UK trades or professions that exceed the lower profits limit and are chargeable to Income Tax.
2. The additional rate is payable on profits that exceed the upper profits limit.
3. An individual who is both employed and self-employed may pay Class 1, Class 2 and Class 4 NIC, subject to the maximum limit for the year.