NIC for the self-employed

A clarification and reminder following the Spring Statement

Voluntary class 2 national insurance contributions are unaffected by the Spring Statement changes, but don’t forget that class 4 losses might need recording separately. HMRC has confirmed that individuals with adjusted trading profits up to the class 2 small profits threshold (SPT), which for 2022/23 is £6,725 (£6,515 in 2021/22), will continue to be able to make voluntary class 2 national insurance contributions (NIC) in 2022/23 of £3.15pw as is presently the case (£3.05pw in 2021/22). This will include traders who make losses, because a trading loss is equivalent to a profit of £nil for class 2 NIC purposes. This follows the Spring Statement announcement that from 2022/23, traders with profits between the SPT and the class 4 lower profits limit (LPL) will not have to pay class 2 NIC but will nevertheless receive credit for that year in their national insurance contributions record. The credit in the contributions record will entitle them to claim state pension and contributory state benefits. In effect, it is a nil rate band, like the one for employees. The LPL for 2022/23 will be £11,908 and for 2023/24 onwards will be aligned with the income tax personal allowance of £12,570. Regulations will be laid in due course.