National Insurance Contributions Act 2015



National Insurance Contributions Act 2015

2015 CHAPTER 5

An Act to make provision in relation to national insurance contributions; and for connected purposes.

[12th February 2015]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Secondary Class 1 contributions: apprentices under 25

Secondary Class 1 contributions: apprentices under 25

S-1 Zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for apprentices under 25

1 Zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for apprentices under 25

(1) SSCBA 1992 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 9 (calculation of secondary Class 1 contributions), in subsection (1A), after paragraph (a) insert-

"(aa) if section 9B below (zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for certain apprentices) applies to the earnings, 0%;".

(3) In section 9A (the age-related secondary percentage), after subsection (1) insert-

"(1A) But this section does not apply to those earnings so far as section 9B below (zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for certain apprentices) applies to them."

(4) After section 9A insert-

"9B Zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for certain apprentices

(1) Where a secondary Class 1 contribution is payable as mentioned in section 6(1)(b) above, this section applies to the earnings paid in the tax week, in respect of the employment in question, if the earner is a relevant apprentice in relation to that employment.

(2) An earner is a "relevant apprentice", in relation to an employment, if the earner-

(a) is aged under 25, and

(b) is employed, in the employment, as an apprentice.

(3) For the purposes of this Act a person is still to be regarded as being liable to pay a secondary Class 1 contribution even if the amount of the contribution is £0 because this section applies to the earnings in question.

(4) The Treasury may by regulations provide that, in relation to relevant apprentices, there is to be for every tax year an upper secondary threshold for secondary Cla ss 1 contributions.

That threshold is to be the amount specified for that year by regulations made by the Treasury.

(5) Subsections (4) and (5) of section 5 above (which confer power to prescribe an equivalent of a secondary threshold in relation to earners paid otherwise than weekly), and subsection (6) of that section as it applies for the purposes of those subsections, apply for the purposes of an upper secondary threshold in relation to relevant apprentices as they apply for the purposes of a secondary threshold.

(6) Subsection (7) applies if-

(a) a secondary Class 1 contribution is payable as mentioned in section 6(1)(b) above,

(b) the earnings paid in the tax week, in respect of the employment in question, exceed the current upper secondary threshold (or the prescribed equivalent) in relation to relevant apprentices, and

(c) the earner is a relevant apprentice in relation to the employment.

(7) This section does not apply to those earnings so far as they exceed that threshold (or the prescribed equivalent) ("the excess earnings") and, accordingly, for the purposes of section 9(1) above the relevant percentage in respect of the excess earnings is the secondary percentage.

(8) But the Treasury may by regulations modify the effect of subsection (7) in a case in which the earner falls within an age group specified in column 1 of the table in section 9A(3) above.

(9) In subsection (2)(b) "apprentice" has such meaning as the Treasury may prescribe.

(10) The Treasury may by regulations amend subsection (2)(a) so as to alter the age that an earner must be in order to be a relevant apprentice (and regulations under this subsection may have the effect of allowing anyone who is of an age at which secondary Class 1 contributions are payable to be a relevant apprentice)."

(5) In section 176(1)(a) (regulations subject to affirmative procedure), after "section 9A(7);" insert-

"section 9B(4), (8) or (10);".

(6) SSCB(NI)A 1992 is amended as follows.

(7) In section 9 (calculation of secondary Class 1 contributions), in subsection (1A), after paragraph (a) insert-

"(aa) if section 9B below (zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for certain apprentices) applies to the earnings, 0%;".

(8) In section 9A (the age-related secondary percentage), after subsection (1) insert-

"(1A) But this section does not apply to those earnings so far as section 9B below (zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for certain apprentices) applies to them."

(9) After section 9A insert-

"9B Zero-rate secondary Class 1 contributions for certain apprentices

(1) Where a secondary Class 1 contribution is payable as mentioned in section 6(1)(b) above, this section applies to the earnings paid in the tax week, in respect of the employment in question, if the earner is a relevant apprentice in relation to that employment.

(2) An earner is a "relevant apprentice", in relation to an employment, if the earner-

(a) is aged under 25, and

(b) is employed, in the employment, as an apprentice.

(3) For the purposes of this Act a person is still to be regarded as being liable to pay a secondary Class 1 contribution even if the amount of the contribution is £0 because this section applies to the earnings in question.

(4) The Treasury may by regulations provide that, in relation to relevant apprentices, there is to be for every tax year an upper secondary threshold for secondary Class 1 contributions.

That threshold is to be the amount specified for that year by regulations made by the Treasury.

(5) Subsections (4) and (5) of section 5 above (which confer power to prescribe an equivalent of a secondary threshold in relation to earners paid otherwise than weekly), and subsection (6) of that section as it applies for the purposes of those subsections, apply for the purposes of an upper secondary threshold in relation to relevant apprentices as they apply for the purposes of a secondary threshold.

(6) Subsection (7) applies if-

(a) a secondary Class 1 contribution is payable as mentioned in section 6(1)(b) above,

(b) the earnings paid in the tax week, in respect of the employment in question, exceed the current upper secondary threshold (or the prescribed equivalent) in relation to relevant apprentices, and

(c) the earner is a relevant apprentice in relation to the employment.

(7) This section does not apply to those earnings so far as they exceed that threshold (or the prescribed equivalent) ("the excess earnings") and, accordingly, for the purposes of section 9(1) above the relevant percentage in respect of the excess earnings is the secondary percentage.

(8) But the Treasury may by regulations modify the effect of subsection (7) in a case in which the earner falls within an age group specified in column 1 of the table in section 9A(3) above.

(9) In subsection (2)(b) "apprentice" has such meaning as the Treasury may prescribe.

(10) The Treasury may by regulations amend subsection (2)(a) so as to alter the age that an earner must be in order to be a relevant apprentice (and regulations under this subsection may have the effect of allowing anyone who is of an age at which secondary Class 1 contributions are payable to be a relevant apprentice)."

(10) In section 172(11A) (regulations subject to affirmative procedure), after "9A(7)," insert "section 9B (4), (8) or (10),".

(11) The amendments made by this section come into force-

(a) for the purposes of making regulations under section 9B of SSCBA 1992 or section 9B of SSCB(NI)A 1992, at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, and

(b) for remaining purposes, on 6 April 2016.

Class 2 contributions

Class 2 contributions

S-2 Reform of Class 2 contributions

2 Reform of Class 2 contributions

Schedule 1 contains provision relating to Class 2 national insurance contributions.

S-3 Consequential etc power

3 Consequential etc power

(1) The Treasury may by regulations make consequential, incidental or supplementary provision in connection with the provision made in Schedule 1.

(2) Regulations under this section may modify any provision of an Act or an instrument made under an Act.

(3) In subsection (2) "modify" includes amend, repeal or revoke.

(4) Section 175(3) to (5) of SSCBA 1992 (various supplementary powers) applies to the power to make regulations conferred by this section.

(5) Regulations under this section must be made by statutory instrument.

(6) A statutory instrument containing (with or without other provision) regulations under this section that amend or repeal a provision of an Act may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section that does not have to be approved in draft under subsection (6) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Follower notices, accelerated payments and promoters of avoidance

Follower notices, accelerated payments and promoters of avoidance

S-4 Application of Parts 4 and 5 of FA 2014 to national insurance contributions

4 Application of Parts 4 and 5 of FA 2014 to national insurance contributions

(1) Part 1 of Schedule 2 applies Part 4 of FA 2014 (follower notices and accelerated payments) to Class 1, 1A, 1B and certain Class 2 contributions.

(2) Part 2 of that Schedule applies Part 5 of that Act (promoters of tax avoidance schemes) to Class 1, 1A, 1B and certain Class 2 contributions.

(3) Part 3 of that Schedule applies Parts 4 and 5 of that Act to Class 4 contributions.

(4) Part 4 of that Schedule contains commencement and transitory...

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