National Insurance Company is the second largest general Insurance provider in India. The company has offices all over the country and a branch in Nepal.
NICs are paid by employees and employers on earnings, as well as some self-employed people. The contributions are credited to an individual’s NI record and can protect their future entitlement to benefits.
About National Insurance
National Insurance, or NI, is a tax paid on earnings and helps to pay for state benefits like the State Pension. It also pays contributions towards the cost of certain carer’s allowances, widow’s/widower’s pension and maternity/paternity leave.
Nearly everyone working in the UK pays National Insurance – it is deducted from your wages automatically by employers under the PAYE system and through Self Assessment by those who are self-employed. The amount you pay depends on what kind of work you do, how much you earn and whether you are a member of the new single-tier State Pension scheme.
The system in the UK is similar to that of the United States, which funds Social Security and Medicare. The National Insurance contributions (NIC) that are paid by employees, employers and the self-employed help to build entitlement to the State Pension and certain other state benefits.
In the Isle of Man, the NIC that is paid on taxable earnings is used to help fund the State Pension and other state benefits. It is collected by HM Revenue and Customs, which is also responsible for the collection of income tax in the Isle of Man. You will have a unique National Insurance number that is recorded against your name and is also used to identify you on other government documents such as letters from HMRC and wage slips.
NI Contributions
After a tumultuous 2022, the National Insurance (NIC) landscape looks much more stable. The Chancellor announced on 23 September 2023 that the temporary 1.25% NIC rate increase which came into force in April will be reversed from 6 November for the rest of the tax year. This means that workers should see an increase in their take-home pay of around 2.5%.
Individuals pay NI contributions when they are employed or self-employed and these payments help to fund a variety of social benefit schemes including the State pension, unemployment benefits and sick leave. NIC payments are split into different ‘classes’ with Class 1 and 2 contributions paid by employees, Class 1A and 1B by employers and Class 3 by the self-employed.
Employee NICs are deducted from gross wages by their employer and are remitted to HMRC along with income tax deductions. Those who are self-employed make their own NIC payments via their self-assessment tax return.
If you have gaps in your NI record it can affect your eligibility for certain benefits – particularly the new State pension. You may be able to fill these gaps by making voluntary NIC payments. You can also check whether you have been contracted out of Additional State Pension – and therefore receive less in your new State pension – by looking at previous pay slips and looking for a D or N next to the NIC line.
NI Schemes
The NI scheme provides eighteen (18) benefits grouped into three categories: long term, short-term and employment injury. The scheme is governed by the National Insurance Board which oversees the plans, organisation and internal administration of the Scheme.
The government’s reversal of the 1.25p in the pound rise in NI means you’ll keep more of your pay. But how much it will save you depends on your income.
Most employers withhold NICs from employees’ wages and remit them to HMRC. This includes salaries, holiday allowance, overtime pay and benefits-in-kind such as lunches and company cars. Self-employed people make contributions through a fixed weekly or monthly payment, or on a percentage of their net profits. Individuals can also pay voluntary NICs to top up their qualifying years and protect their State Pension entitlement.
NI funds the cost of many benefits and helps fund health services, including the NHS. The government can borrow from the NI fund to help pay for other projects.
You can check your NI record online using your Government Gateway user ID and password to access your personal tax account. Your NI record will show how much you’ve paid and what you qualify for. You can also use nidirect to find out more about how much State Pension you’re likely to get. This is based on how many qualifying years you have.
NI Online
NI Online makes it easy for people to access their policy information anytime, anywhere. They can check their National Insurance number, view their payments and contributions, and submit online claim forms. This means they can save time and avoid having to contact HMRC by phone or in person. It also helps to ease pressure on HMRC’s customer helplines, which are often busy.
You can check your NI number in many places, including your online Personal tax account or the HMRC App. You may be asked to answer some questions or provide proof of identity before you can see it. You can also get it by calling the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) phone line, though this can take up to 15 days.
You may need to provide documents like passports or driving licences to prove your identity if you use this service. This can be a frustrating experience, but it’s important to do as it protects you from scammers who could steal your identity or make false claims on your behalf.
NI is committed to helping more young people in Northern Ireland get online. They’re working with Code2College to build a pipeline of diverse tech talent, through education, industry exposure and hands-on experience, and they’re making it easier for people to start using the internet. They’re also a Lead Sponsor of FIRST, supporting their work to help girls, students from low-income backgrounds and underrepresented minorities to access STEM opportunities. אתר ביטוח לאומי