If you’re employed or self-employed, you’re probably familiar with the concept of national insurance. It’s a form of tax that’s deducted from your paycheque (or self-employment profits) alongside income tax when you turn 16 and earn more than a certain amount. But while you might know that you need to make national insurance contributions if you want to receive the state pension, you might be less clear on when you can stop paying national insurance – including whether you need to pay national insurance on income from your pension. This guide will set you straight.
What is national insurance?
National insurance is a form of tax that’s paid on employment earnings and self-employment profits above a certain level. National insurance contributions are put into a central fund that is used to pay for welfare and other state benefits. These include the NHS, unemployment benefits, maternity allowance and the state pension.
Whether you receive some of these benefits, including the state pension, will depend on you having made sufficient national insurance contributions.
There are several classes of national insurance contributions. The class you’ll pay depend on the nature of your work. This includes whether you’re employed or self-employed. If you don’t have a paid job, or have a career break, you can choose to make voluntary national insurance contributions to ensure you qualify for the state pension. You can find out more about the different national insurance classes and current national insurance rates on the gov.uk website.
When do I start and stop paying national insurance on employment income?
You must pay national insurance on any earnings from employment if you’re 16 or over and earn over a certain amount. This is £12,570 a year as of the 2024/25 tax year. If you’re self-employed, this threshold applies to profits, rather than overall income.
You usually stop paying national insurance contributions on the date you reach state pension age, even if you carry on working. If you’re self-employed, you’ll carry on paying Class 4 contributions until the end of the tax year in which you reach state pension age.
As of June 2024, state pension age is 66. It is due to rise to 67 from 2028.
Do I have to pay national insurance on income from a private or workplace pension?
No. National insurance contributions are only paid on income from employment or self-employed profits. You won’t be charged national insurance on any income you receive from a private or workplace pension. This applies even if you start receiving pension income before you reach state pension age.
Does it matter how much private or workplace pension I get?
Not a jot. No matter how much money you receive from your pension, either as a lump sum or as regular income, you won’t need to pay national insurance. Income tax is another matter, as this is payable on most forms of income – including from your pension – even after you reach state pension age.
Do I have to pay national insurance on my state pension income?
No. In fact, when you reach state pension age, you stop paying national insurance contributions completely. So, even if you carry on working after retirement, you won’t need to pay national insurance on any employment earnings or self-employment profits.
Where can I find out if I have to pay national insurance?
There’s no need to do any more research into whether you have to pay national insurance on pension income. You don’t. And if you’ve already reached state pension age, you stop paying national insurance on any sort of income.
Whether you need to pay national insurance on employment earnings or self-employed profits before you reach state pension age depends on how much you earn. You can check the thresholds on the gov.uk website. If you work for an employer, your national insurance contributions will be automatically deducted from your pay before you receive it. If you’re self-employed, national insurance contributions will be calculated based on your profits when you submit your tax return. You’ll pay them at the same time as your income tax bill.
Is national insurance charged on any sort of retirement income?
That depends on when and how you retire and what sort of income you receive.
You won’t pay national insurance on any pension income, regardless of when you retire. And if you retire at state pension age, you won’t pay national insurance on any income at all.
However, if you take an early, phased retirement, whereby you stop working full-time but maybe take on part-time employment, then until state pension age any employment income or self-employed profits that exceed the national insurance threshold will be liable for national insurance.
Bottom line
The good news is that you don’t need to pay national insurance on any form of pension income, whether that’s from a private pension, a workplace pension or the state pension. But other taxes, including income tax, may apply if your combined earnings from your pension and other income exceed a certain level per year. For more advice, check our guide on tax and pensions.
Frequently asked questions
No. You don’t pay national insurance on any form of pension income. So whether you receive income from the state pension, a workplace pension or a private pension, you won’t have to pay national insurance.
Potentially, on certain forms of income. You don’t pay national insurance on pension income, regardless of whether you officially retire at 55 or 75. But national insurance is payable on income from employment (or profits from self-employment) until you reach state pension age. So if you retire from full-time work at age 55 but continue to work part-time (for an employer or on a self-employed basis), then you’ll need to pay national insurance if your income or profits exceed the minimum threshold for national insurance.
Sadly, yes. Assuming your pension income (combined with any other income) exceeds your annual personal allowance. Unlike national insurance, your earnings from most sources (including pension income) are liable for income tax until the day you die. The only exception is the 25% tax-free lump sum you’re able to take from your pension from the age of 55. You can find out more in our full guide to pensions and tax.
Pensions are long-term investments. You may get back less than you originally paid in because your capital is not guaranteed and charges may apply. Keep in mind that the tax treatment of your pension and investments will depend on your individual circumstances and may change in the future. Capital at risk.
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Ceri Stanaway is a researcher, writer and editor with more than 15 years’ experience, including a long stint at independent publisher Which?. She’s helped people find the best products and services, and avoid the pitfalls, across topics ranging from broadband to insurance. Outside of work, you can often find her sampling the fares in local cafes. See full bio
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