Small Businesses: National Insurance Contributions

Question

The Government announced on 22 September that it will be reversing the Health and Social Care Levy. This will provide a tax cut for the 60 per cent (920,000) of businesses who pay National Insurance contributions (NICs) bills by an average of £9,600 in 2023-24. 20,000 businesses will be taken out of paying NICs entirely.

The other 40 per cent of businesses already pay no NICs as a result of the Employment Allowance (EA). In April 2022, the Government increased the EA, a relief which allows eligible businesses to reduce their employer NICs bills each year, from £4,000 to £5,000.

This means that businesses and charities who had employer NICs bills of £100,000 or less in the previous tax year are able to claim up to £5,000 off their employer NICs bills. As a result, eligible businesses are able to employ 4 full-time employees on the National Living Wage without paying any employer NICs. 94 per cent of businesses that benefitted from this change were small and micro businesses.

The Government also recognises that many businesses are exposed to increased energy costs driven by global factors. The Government has announced new support for households, businesses and public sector organisations facing rising energy bills in Great Britain and Northern Ireland – supporting growth, preventing unnecessary insolvencies and protecting jobs.

Through a new Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the Government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers (including all UK businesses, the voluntary sector like charities and the public sector such as schools and hospitals) whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. This support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households.