Employers use an employee鈥檚 National Insurance category letter when they run payroll to work out how much they both need to contribute. Most employees have category letter A. Employees can find their category letter on their payslip. Category letter Employee group A All employees apart from those in groups B, C, H, J, M, V and Z in this table B Married women and widows who have a certificate of election form showing they鈥檙e entitled to pay reduced National Insurance C Employees over the State Pension age H Apprentices under 25 J Employees who can defer National Insurance because they鈥檙e already paying it in another job M Employees under 21 V Employees who are working in their first job since leaving the armed forces (veterans) Z Employees under 21 who can defer National Insurance because they鈥檙e already paying it in another job Category letters for eligible employees who work in freeports Employers use category letters F, I, L and S for eligible employees who work in a freeport. Category letter Employee group F All employees who work in freeports, apart from those in groups I, L, and S in this table I Married women and widows working in freeports who have a certificate of election form showing they鈥檙e entitled to pay reduced National Insurance L Employees who work in freeports and can defer National Insurance because they鈥檙e already paying it in another job S Employees who work in freeports and are over the State Pension age Category letters for eligible employees who work in investment zones聽 Employers use category letters N, E, D and K for eligible employees who work in an investment zone. Category letter Employee group N All employees who work in investment zones, apart from those in groups E, D and K in this table E Married women and widows working in investment zones who have a certificate of election form showing they鈥檙e entitled to pay reduced National Insurance D Employees who work in investment zones and can defer National Insurance because they鈥檙e already paying it in another job K Employees who work in investment zones and are over State Pension age Category letter X Employers use category letter X for employees who do not have to pay National Insurance, for example because they鈥檙e under 16. Mariners and deep sea fishermen HMRC has detailed information on National Insurance for mariners and deep sea fishermen .

National Insurance rates and categories: Contribution rates

National Insurance rates and categories

Contribution rates

An employee鈥檚 Class 1 National Insurance is made up of contributions:

deducted from their pay (employee鈥檚 National Insurance)
paid by their employer (employer鈥檚 National Insurance)

The amounts deducted and paid depend on:

the employee鈥檚 National Insurance category letter
how much of the employee鈥檚 earnings falls within each band

Employee National Insurance rates

This table shows how much employers deduct from employees鈥� pay from 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025.

You can see past employee National Insurance rates.

Category letter	拢123 to 拢242 (拢533 to 拢1,048 a month)	拢242.01 to 拢967 (拢1,048.01 to 拢4,189 a month)	Over 拢967 a week (拢4,189 a month)
A	0%	8%	2%
B	0%	1.85%	2%
C	N/A	N/A	N/A
D	0%	2%	2%
E	0%	1.85%	2%
F	0%	8%	2%
H	0%	8%	2%
I	0%	1.85%	2%
J	0%	2%	2%
K	N/A	N/A	N/A
L	0%	2%	2%
M	0%	8%	2%
N	0%	8%	2%
S	N/A	N/A	N/A
V	0%	8%	2%
Z	0%	2%	2%

Example

If you鈥檙e in category A and you earn 拢1,000 in a week you鈥檒l pay:聽

nothing on the first 拢242
8% (拢58) on your earnings between 拢242.01 and 拢967
2% (拢0.66) on the remaining earnings above 拢967

This means your National Insurance payment will be 拢58.66 for the week.

Employer National Insurance rates

This table shows how much employers pay towards employees鈥� National Insurance from 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025.

Category letter	拢123 to 拢175 (拢533 to 拢758 a month)	拢175.01 to 拢481 (拢758.01 to 拢2,083 a month)	拢481.01 to 拢967 (拢2,083.01 to 拢4,189 a month)	Over 拢967 a week (拢4,189 a month)
A	0%	13.8%	13.8%	13.8%
B	0%	13.8%	13.8%	13.8%
C	0%	13.8%	13.8%	13.8%
D	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
贰听	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
F	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
H	0%	0%	0%	13.8%
I	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
J	0%	13.8%	13.8%	13.8%
K	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
L	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
M	0%	0%	0%	13.8%
N	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
S	0%	0%	13.8%	13.8%
V	0%	0%	0%	13.8%
Z	0%	0%	0%	13.8%

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has full rates and thresholds for tax years:

You can also use calculators and tables to check employees鈥� National Insurance.

Class 1A and Class 1B rates

Employers pay Class 1A and 1B National Insurance on expenses and benefits they give to their employees. The rate from 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025 on expenses and benefits is 13.8%.

They must also pay Class 1A on some other lump sum payments, for example redundancy payments. HMRC has detailed guidance on all Class 1A and Class 1B rates.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Decide what type of employee you need
1. Check whether you need full time or part time staff
2. Check the different types of employment status
and Check you can afford to take on employees
Step 2 Make your workplace safe and accessible for employees
You also need to make checks when you recruit and employ someone.
1. Find out what you need to check when you employ someone
Step 3 Register as an employer and set up PAYE
You need to register with HMRC so you can pay tax and national insurance for your employees.
Step 4 Check your responsibilities around workplace pensions
Step 5 Get Employers' Liability insurance
1. Find out about Employers' Liability insurance
Step 6 Recruit and employ staff
1. Employ someone

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