Question 1

How much National Insurance do I pay on a £35,000 salary?

Accepted Answer

On a £35,000 salary in 2025/26, you pay employee National Insurance of: 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £35,000 = 8% × £22,430 = £1,794.40 per year. This is approximately £149.53 per month. You pay no NI on the first £12,570 and your employer separately pays 15% employer NI on your earnings above £5,000.

Question 2

What changed with National Insurance in April 2025?

Accepted Answer

From April 2025, employer National Insurance increased from 13.8% to 15%, and the secondary threshold (where employer NI starts) fell from £9,100 to £5,000 per year. Employee NI rates did not change — employees still pay 8% between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above. These were the most significant employer NI changes in decades.

Question 3

Do self-employed people pay National Insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Self-employed people pay two types of NI. Class 2 NI is a flat rate of £179 per year (2025/26) if profits exceed £12,570. Class 4 NI is 9% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above £50,270. Self-employed NI is reported through Self Assessment and paid by 31 January each year.

Question 4

How many NI years do I need for the full State Pension?

Accepted Answer

You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to receive the full new State Pension, which is £221.20 per week in 2025/26. You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension. You can check your NI record and State Pension forecast at gov.uk using the 'Check your State Pension' service.

Question 5

Can I make voluntary National Insurance contributions?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions to fill gaps in your NI record and boost your State Pension. The rate for 2025/26 is £17.45 per week. Filling gaps can be very good value — each extra year adds approximately £6.32 per week to your State Pension (£328.64 per year). Check if this is worthwhile at gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions.

Type	Threshold	Rate
Employee (Class 1)	£12,570 – £50,270	8%
Employee (Class 1)	Over £50,270	2%
Employer (Class 1 Secondary)	Over £5,000	15%
Self-Employed (Class 2)	Over £12,570	£179/year flat
Self-Employed (Class 4)	£12,570 – £50,270	9%
Self-Employed (Class 4)	Over £50,270	2%

National Insurance Rates 2025/26

What Does National Insurance Pay For?

Employer NI Changes April 2025