National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
Despite lobbying to delay the upcoming 1.25% increase in NICs payable by employees, employers and the self-employed, the government has decided to go ahead as planned from April 2022, to provide additional funds for health and social care.
Increase in the starting NIC threshold for individuals
The annual level at which employees and the self-employed start to pay NICs was due to increase from £9,568 to £9,880 from 6 April 2022. This increase will go ahead but be further uplifted to £12,570 from 6 July 2022, effectively aligning the point at which an individual starts to pay NICs with the £12,570 income tax personal allowance. In the tax year to 5 April 2023, this is a NIC cut worth £267 for most employees and £207 for most self-employed individuals.
Class 2 NIC liabilities of the self-employed
For the self-employed, some individuals will find that they no longer need to pay Class 2 NICs from April 2022. The small profits threshold will be set at £6,725 as planned but the requirement to pay Class 2 NIC will only apply to those with self-employed profits over £11,908. This will benefit approximately 500,000 self-employed individuals by saving them £165 a year.
- From 6 April 2023, Class 2 NIC will only be payable by those with profits over £12,570.
Income Tax
The Chancellor has committed to reduce the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 19%, but not until 6 April 2024. It is estimated that this will save 30 million individuals an average of £175 per year.
VAT Rates in the Leisure and Hospitality Sector
No extension has been granted to the leisure and hospitality sector for use of the reduced 12.5% VAT rate on eligible supplies including food, non-alcoholic beverages and hotel and holiday accommodation. The VAT rate applied to these supplies will revert to 20% from 1 April 2022 as planned.
Fuel Duty
Fuel duty has been cut by 5p per litre for 12 months from 6pm on 23 March 2022. The Treasury report that this will save the average car driver £100 a year and the average van driver £200 a year.
