Class 2 National Insurance

Class 2 National Insurance is one of two types of National Insurance (NI) that you pay if you’re self-employed. You pay National Insurance so that you’re entitled to certain state provided benefits such as the state pension.

The second type that you pay is Class 4. With both, the type that you pay is determined by how much you earn. You start paying Class 2 NI once you earn over £6,725 a year from self-employment.

How much is Class 2 National Insurance?

You pay a fixed amount calculated at £3.45 per week. That works out as a flat £179 per year.

Unlike Income Tax, you have to pay National Insurance even if you earn less than the tax-free Personal Allowance.

What do I owe?

Click to use our National Insurance calculator. We’ll calculate what you owe based on what you earned and your expenses.

How do I pay?

You pay this tax via a Self Assessment tax return, the same way that you do with Income Tax. Here are few other things to bear in mind about National Insurance:

• Once you earn over £12,570 a year you will also pay Class 4 NI
• If you’re both employed and self-employed (i.e. you work a full-time salaried job and have a side hustle), you’ll pay both Class 1 NI, Class 2, and potentially Class 4

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