National Insurance Calculator
Calculate your NI contributions for the 2025/26 tax year, whether you're employed or self-employed.
National Insurance Calculator
Estimate your NI contributions for your selected tax year.
This calculator provides an estimate for NI letter 'A' for employees and standard rates for self-employed individuals.
Your Estimated NI Contributions
A breakdown of your contributions based on your inputs.
Total Annual NI
£2,994.40
Monthly
£249.53
Weekly
£57.58
Rates for Employees (Class 1)
| Weekly Earnings | NI Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £242/week | 0% |
| £242 to £967/week | 8% |
| Above £967/week | 2% |
Understanding National Insurance
National Insurance (NI) is a tax on earnings paid by both employees and self-employed individuals. Your contributions build your entitlement to certain state benefits.
Employees (Class 1 NI)
If you're employed, you pay Class 1 National Insurance.
Your employer deducts Class 1 NI contributions directly from your salary through the PAYE system. The amount you pay depends on your earnings and your NI category letter (most people are on letter 'A').
- You pay NI on earnings between the Primary Threshold and the Upper Earnings Limit.
- The rate for 2025/26 is 8% on earnings in this band.
- You pay 2% on earnings above the Upper Earnings Limit.
- Your employer also pays a separate contribution of 13.8% on your earnings.
Our main take-home pay calculator can show you these deductions in a full salary breakdown.
Self-Employed (Class 2 & 4 NI)
If you're self-employed, you are responsible for paying your own NI.
Self-employed individuals pay NI based on their business profits, which is calculated and paid via the annual Self Assessment tax return. Our freelancer calculator can help with this.
- Class 2 NI: A weekly flat rate, but from April 2024 it's no longer mandatory for most. You may choose to pay it voluntarily to build up your state pension entitlement.
- Class 4 NI: This is the main contribution, calculated as a percentage of your annual profits.
- For 2025/26, you pay 6% on profits between the Lower and Upper Profit Limits.
- You pay 2% on profits above the Upper Profit Limit.
What Do My NI Contributions Pay For?
Your contributions fund key state benefits and services.