This month you’ll find you’re paying more National Insurance

Compare car insurance quotes and save

There are two reasons for that. First, the rate of NICs rose this month from 12% to 13.25%, which increases the amount employees pay. Second, the rise in the threshold itself doesn’t begin until 6 July. So for three months – 13 weeks – employees will pay more tax; and for the following nine months – 39 weeks – most will pay a bit less.

The two changes balance out over the year at earnings of £34,372 or £661 a week: if you earn more than that, you’ll pay more NICs over the whole of 2022/23 than you did last year. If you earn less than that, you’ll pay less in NICs than last tax year.

The Chancellor said the change would be “a tax cut for employees, worth over £330 a year”. But the detailed documents from the Treasury explain that that figure is the saving over the 12 months from when it starts on 6 July. It makes assumptions about inflation and what the threshold would have been in 2023/24 if it hadn’t been raised to £12,570. That gain of £330 is the best gloss that can be put on the tax saving. The actual benefit for most employees from raising the threshold to £12,570, compared with letting it rise with inflation as it normally does, is £269 in 2022/23 and £262 in 2023/24.

The rise in the threshold will not make it harder to qualify for a state pension. That needs 35 years of contributions to be paid or credited. People earning below the threshold to pay contributions will still be credited with them if they earn at least £123 a week. So those earning £123 to £241 a week will get a credit that counts equally with contributions actually paid by those earning more.

Paul Lewis presents Money Box on Radio 4. QUESTIONS? Send any questions to Paul.Lewis@radiotimes.com. Paul cannot answer you personally, but will reflect them in his column

Save money by switching today - find out more

Compare car insurance quotes and save