There are three main scenarios a director can fall under when they've changed NI category mid-year:
Earnings above the Primary Threshold (PT) on the original NI category
In this scenario, their NI's calculated in two stages.
First, their earnings on their original NI Category are recalculated using the annual thresholds, to ensure they paid the right NI whilst on that category.
A second recalculation then takes place for any NI due on the new NI category.
During the second recalculation, Payroll calculates how the annual thresholds need to be accommodated so that the NI's still correct:
- As the employee has already earned about the PT on the first NI category, and this was accounted for during the first calculation, then they do not get earnings below the PT (chargeable at 0%) on the second NI category.
- Therefore, where applicable due, NI on the second NI category will begin to calculate immediately on their earnings.
NOTE: This still applies to NI Category C, however as NI Category C has no employee NI Contributions, no NI is calculated on their earnings while on Category C. - Their total earnings would be considered to see if they pass above the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) while on either NI Category. If so, then the rate of NIC will change at the point their total earnings for the year passes above the UEL.
The net sum of these recalculations will form the total NI contributions due for the employee for the year.
FPS Liability
The FPS liability for employees in the final pay period of the year will include the rebated NI contributions from the original NI category, the total Employer NI contributions from the original NI category (which have been reallocated to the new NI Category), as well as any Employers NIC in the final period.
The FPS liability in the final period can be worked out as follows:
FPS Liability = PAYE + Student Loan + Postgraduate Loan + Total Employee NIC for months on original NI Category + Total Employer's NIC for months on original NI Category + Employee's NIC due this period + Employer's NIC due this period.
EXAMPLE: View example >
If an employee has changed from category A to category C mid-year, then the FPS liability would calculate as follows:
PAYE + Student Loan + Postgraduate Loan + Total Employee's NIC while on Category A + Total Employer's NIC while on Category A + Employees NIC on category C this period(£0) + Employer's NIC on category C this period.
Earnings below the Primary Threshold (PT) but above the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) on the original NI category
In this scenario, any NI contributions paid whilst on the original NI Category are rebated, as no NI should have been deducted.
Their earnings from the original NI category are then re-allocated to the new NI category. Their NI is then recalculated on the new NI category, using their total earnings for the year (including the earnings from the original NI category), to calculate the total NI due for the year.
Therefore any NI paid whilst on the original NI category is reallocated to the new NI category. For the employee, this is reallocated as an NI rebate. For the employer, any NI paid is reallocated to the new NI category, and reflected on the FPS.
FPS Liability
The FPS liability for employees in the final pay period of the year will include the rebated NI contributions from the original NI category, the total Employer NI contributions from the original NI category (which have been reallocated to the new NI Category), as well as any Employers NIC in the final period.
The FPS liability in the final period can be worked out as follows:
FPS Liability = PAYE + Student Loan + Postgraduate Loan + Total Employee's NIC for months on original NI Category (as a rebate/negative) + Total Employer's NIC for months on original NI category + Employer's NIC due this period.
EXAMPLE: View example >
If an employee has changed from category A to category C mid-year, then the FPS liability would calculate as follows:
PAYE + Student Loan + Postgraduate Loan + Total Employee's NIC while on Category A (as a rebate/negative) + Total Employer's NIC while on Category A + Employer's NIC on category C this period.
Earnings below the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) on the original NI category
In this scenario, any NI contributions paid whilst on the original NI Category are rebated, as no NI should have been deducted.
Their earnings from the original NI category are then re-allocated to the new NI category. Their NI is then recalculated on the new NI category using their total earnings for the year (including the earnings from the original NI category).
Therefore any NI paid whilst on the original NI category is reallocated to the new NI category. For the employee, this is reallocated as an NI rebate. For the employer, any NI paid is reallocated to the new NI category.
FPS Liability
The FPS liability for employees in the final pay period of the year will include only any reallocated NI contributions from the Employer, as well as any Employer NIC in the final period. The rebated employee amounts are not included.
The FPS liability in the final period can be worked out as follows:
FPS Liability = PAYE + Student Loan + Postgraduate Loan + Total Employer's NIC for months on original NI Category + Employer's NIC due this period.
EXAMPLE: View example >