UK National Insurance Calculator 2024-25
Calculate your UK National Insurance contributions for 2024/25. Covers Class 1 employee NI and Class 2/4 self-employed NI with accurate rates.
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How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your annual gross income (if employed) or taxable profits (if self-employed).
- 2
Select whether you are an employee or self-employed — the NI classes and rates are different.
- 3
Employees pay Class 1 NI deducted via PAYE; self-employed pay Class 2 (flat weekly rate) and Class 4 (profit-based).
- 4
The results show your annual, monthly, and weekly NI along with the effective rate.
- 5
NI contributions also build your qualifying years towards the State Pension — you need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension.
Frequently asked questions
What are the UK National Insurance rates for 2024/25?
For employees (Class 1) in 2024/25: 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 per year, and 2% on earnings above £50,270. Employers also pay Class 1 NI at 13.8% above the secondary threshold (£9,100/yr) — this is separate and is not deducted from your pay. Self-employed workers pay Class 2 NI at £3.45 per week (£179.40/year) if profits exceed £12,570, plus Class 4 NI at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above £50,270. The Class 4 rate was cut from 9% to 6% in April 2024.
How does NI affect my State Pension entitlement?
Every year you pay National Insurance contributions (or receive NI credits) counts as a qualifying year towards your State Pension. You need a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension, and 35 qualifying years to receive the full new State Pension of £221.20 per week in 2024/25. NI credits are awarded automatically in some circumstances — for example if you claim Child Benefit for a child under 12, receive certain benefits, or are a registered foster carer. You can check your NI record and State Pension forecast via the government's Check your State Pension service at gov.uk.
Do I pay NI on all types of income?
National Insurance only applies to earned income — employment income, self-employment profits, and some benefits in kind. It does not apply to pension income, savings interest, dividends, rental income, or capital gains. This is an important distinction from income tax, which applies to most income types. Once you reach State Pension age you stop paying NI contributions entirely, even if you continue working — so working beyond State Pension age effectively increases your take-home pay relative to working before it.
Can I make voluntary NI contributions to increase my State Pension?
Yes. If you have gaps in your NI record (years where you did not earn enough to receive a qualifying year or claim credits), you can pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions to fill them. For 2024/25 the Class 3 rate is £17.45 per week (£907.40 for a full year). Given the State Pension is worth £221.20 per week, filling just one gap year typically pays back within a few months of retirement. The deadline to fill gaps going back to 2006 was extended, so it is worth checking your record on gov.uk to see if buying extra years makes financial sense.
UK National Insurance Calculator 2024/25 — Employee & Self-Employed NI
Understanding National Insurance contributions in 2024/25
National Insurance (NI) is a tax on earnings that funds the UK's social security system, including the State Pension, the NHS, and certain benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance and Maternity Allowance. Unlike income tax, NI only applies to earned income — wages, salaries, and self-employment profits. In 2024/25, significant changes were made to NI rates: the employee Class 1 rate was cut from 10% to 8% in April 2024, and the self-employed Class 4 rate was reduced from 9% to 6%. Class 2 NI for the self-employed was effectively made voluntary for most people, with those earning above the Small Profits Threshold still benefiting from State Pension credits. The primary threshold — the point at which NI becomes payable — remains aligned with the income tax personal allowance at £12,570 per year, meaning employees and self-employed workers start paying NI at the same income level as income tax.
Self-employed NI versus employed NI: what is the difference?
The main difference between employed and self-employed NI is the class of contributions paid. Employees pay Class 1 NI, which is deducted automatically through PAYE by their employer. The employer also pays a separate Class 1 employer contribution (13.8% above £9,100) — this does not come out of your pay but it does affect the true cost of your employment. Self-employed people instead pay Class 2 NI (a flat weekly rate) and Class 4 NI (a percentage of profits). Class 4 rates are lower than Class 1 employee rates — 6% versus 8% in the main band for 2024/25 — which is partly why the employed and self-employed are taxed differently overall. However, self-employed workers do not receive employer NI contributions, sick pay, holiday pay, or employer pension contributions, meaning the overall package is often less generous than equivalent employment despite lower NI rates.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →