"National insurance contributions reached £198 billion in the year to February 2026, a sharp rise from the £143 billion collected over the equivalent period in 2019-20."
"The trajectory has steepened markedly over the past twelve months, with receipts climbing 15 per cent in a single year following changes introduced in April 2025."
"Robert Salter, a director at accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg, said the chancellor's insistence that employer NIC rises do not constitute a tax on working people is at odds with mainstream economic thinking."
"According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the United Kingdom's overall tax burden is set to reach a postwar high."
National insurance contributions in the UK increased to £198 billion by February 2026, up from £143 billion in 2019-20. This represents a £55 billion annual increase, primarily affecting employer payrolls. The rise accelerated after changes in April 2025, which included a cut in the earnings threshold and an increase in the employer rate. Businesses are also facing additional pressures from rising minimum wage and business rates. The overall tax burden in the UK is projected to reach a postwar high, indicating ongoing fiscal challenges.
Read at Business Matters
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