NIM13150 – Class 1A National Insurance contributions: Liability for Class 1A NICs: Table of common benefits liable for Class 1A NICs


The table below lists what are likely to be the most commonly provided benefits. The purpose of the table is to indicate whether Class 1 or Class 1A NICs are due in particular cases. The amount of Class 1A NICs due is based upon the amount of general earnings calculated under ITEPA 2003 (before 6 April 2003 – the amount of the emoluments calculated under ICTA 1988). Guidance on calculating the income tax on these benefits/payments can be found in the EIM (before 6 April 2003 – the SE Manual). The table also provides references to additional NIM guidance where special Class 1A NICs rules apply.

The table is not exhaustive but provides what are likely to be the most commonly provided benefits. Remember that individual circumstances or facts surrounding a particular benefit may influence the class of NICs due. In most cases the arrangements put in place by an employer to supply the employee with a benefit will determine whether Class 1 or Class 1A NICs are due. In some instances the ‘circumstances’ box of the table will indicate whether the contract to supply the goods or services is with the employer or the employee. See NIM13170 for the importance of this distinction for NICs.

When you use this table you should refer to the references given for the NIM and the EIM (before 6 April 2003 - the SE Manual) to ensure that you treat the payment correctly.

Type of benefitCircumstances of provisionClass 1 LiabilityClass 1A liabilityNIM referencesSE and EI Manual references
Assets placed at the employee’s disposal by the employerProvided for business use and private use is not significant – except motor vehicles, boats and aircraftNoNoNIM02020SE21602
SE21605
SE21615
EIM21611
EIM21614
EIM21630
Provided for mixed business and private useNoYesNIM02020 & NIM05010
Assets transferred to the employee but not Readily Convertible AssetsCan be turned into cash only by sale, such as furniture, kitchen appliances, property and clothesNoYesNIM02020SE21640
EIM21640
Car fuel for private motoring in a provided carAny means of supply or purchase, except round sum allowancesNoYesNIM16175SE23750
EIM23750
Car fuel for private motoring in a privately owned carSupplied using cash, a company credit card, garage or agency card and the litany is usedNoYesNIM02020
NIM05800
NIM06051
NIM16170
SE21640 & EIM21640 – Provision of fuel
SE16010 &
EIM16010 – Credit tokens
Supplied using cash, a company credit card, garage or agency card and the litany not usedYesNoSE00520 & EIM00520 – Cash
SE16010 & EIM16010 – Credit tokens
Supplied from employer’s own pumpNoYesSE21640 EIM21640
Car parking facilitiesAt or near place of workNoNoNIM05615SE21685
EIM21685
Elsewhere – unless the parking is part of a journey which is qualifying business travelNoYes
Cars provided for private useWhere cash equivalent is more than nilNoYesNIM16001SE23001
EIM23001
Childcare help for children up to the age of 16, effective up to 5 April 2005Provided by employer, or employer contracts with the provider – excluding school feesNoNoNIM16100SE21687
Employer reimburses the employee or provides additional salary to meet the cost of childcareYesNo 
Childcare benefits, (other than workplace nurseries – see below) for children up to the age of 16, effective from 6 April 2005Provided by employer, or employer contracts with the provider up to a limit of £55 per week – excluding school feesNoNoNIM16110EIM21687
Employer reimburses the employee or provides additional salary to meet the cost of childcareYesNo
Clothing or uniforms which can be worn at any timeEmployer providedNoYesNIM02020
NIM05010
SE32450
SE32475
EIM32450
EIM32475
Employee is reimbursed costYesNoSE00520
SE32450
SE32475
EIM00520
EIM32450
EIM32475
Clothing (protective) or uniforms which are necessary for work – may have a logoAny circumstancesNoNoSE32470
EIM32470
Computers loaned for private useLoaned for private use (tax years up to and including 2005/06) – First £500 of cash equivalent of benefitNoNo SE21697
EIM21700
Loaned for private use (tax years up to and including 2005/06) – Cash equivalent of benefit above £500NoYes
Loaned for private use on or after 6 April 2006NoYesEIM21699
Entertaining clients NoNoNIM05670SE32570
EIM32570
Entertaining staffEmployer contractsNoYes
Employee contractsYesNo
Eye tests and or special corrective appliances provided on or after 6 April 2006Conditions of section 320A ITEPA 2003 satisfiedNoNoNIM02145EIM21765
Eyes tests and or special corrective appliances provided before 6 April 2006Employer pays for the cost of or provides eyesight tests, spectacles required solely for VDU use, or where spectacles are for general use, but include a special prescription for VDU use, a proportion of the cost relating to the special prescription.NoNoSE21765
EIM21765
Food, groceries, farm produceEmployer contractsNoYesNIM02020SE21640
EIM21640
Employee contractsYesNo
Goods, such as TV, furniture etc., transferred to employeeEmployer contractsNoYesNIM02020SE21640
EIM21640
Employee contractsYesNo
HolidaysEmployer contractsNoYesNIM02020SE21640
EIM21640
Employee contractsYesNo
Living accommodation provided by employerExempt from income taxNoNoNIM02020SE11300
EIM11300
Not exempt from income taxNoYes
Loans, beneficial arrangementsQualifying loansNoNoNIM02210
NIM16670
SE26100
EIM26100
Non-qualifying loansNoYes
Loans, written offAt time employer decides not to seek repayment of the loanYesNo
Meals providedAt canteen open to all staff or on employer’s premises and offered on reasonable scale and all employees may obtain free or subsidised mealsNoNoNIM02020SE21670
EIM21670
All other circumstancesNoYes
Medical check ups or health screening provided by employerOne check up/health screening per year and screening/medical check up generally available to all employees or check up available to all employees identified in previous screening as needing a check upNoNoNIM02020SE21765
EIM21765
Medical, dental treatment or insurance to cover costEmployer contractsNoYesNIM02020
NIM02230
SE21762
EIM21762
Employee contractsYesNo
Outside UK where need for treatment arises while employee is working outside UK for the employerNoNoSE21766
EIM21766
Mobile phone provided by employerMobile phones provided to an employee or any family or household member, before 6 April 2006, for private useNoNoNIM02020SE21780
EIM21780
One mobile phone provided to an employee, on or after 6 April 2006, for private use – not provided to the employee’s family and household.NoNoEIM21778
Mobile phones - cost of private callsEmployer contractsNoYes SE32945
EIM32945
Employee contractsYesNo
Office accommodation, supplies/services used by employees in carrying out employment (includes computers)Private use is not significantNoNoNIM05010SE21601
EIM21610
Personal bills of the employee YesNoNIM02270SE00580
EIM00580
Personal Incidental expensesConditions for exemption satisfiedNoNoNIM06010SE02700
EIM02710
Readily Convertible Assets YesNoNIM04007SE11803
EIM11900
Relocation expenses/benefitsNon-eligible expensesYesNoNIM06110

NIM16250

SE03100
EIM03100
Non-qualifying benefits and eligible expenses paid after the relevant dayNoYes
Qualifying expenses and benefits of £8,000 or lessNoNo
Qualifying expenses/benefits in excess of £8,000NoYes
Scholarships awarded to students because of their parent’s employmentEmployer contractsNoYes SE30000
EIM30000
Employee contractsYesNo
School feesEmployer contractsNoYesNIM16105SE21640
EIM21640
Employee contractsYesNo
Social FunctionsAnnual parties for which conditions for tax exemption satisfiedNoNoNIM02020SE21690
EIM21690
Any other type of functionNoYes
Sporting or recreational facilities provided by employerConditions for tax exemption satisfiedNoNoNIM02020SE22850
EIM21825
All other circumstancesNoYes
Subscription and fees allowed under sections 343 or 344 of ITEPA 2003 (before 6 April 2003 – section 201 ICTA 1988)Any circumstancesNoNoNIM16150SE32880
EIM32880
Subscription and fees not allowed under sections 343 or 344 of ITEPA 2003 (before 6 April 2003 – section 201 ICTA 1988)Employer contractsNoYes
Employee contractsYesNo
Staff suggestion awardsConditions of section 321 of ITEPA 2003 satisfied (before 6 April 2003 – ESC A57)NoNoNIM02350

NIM16300

SE06600
EIM06600
Conditions of section 321 of ITEPA 2003 not satisfied (before 6 April 2003- ESC A57) – award made up of cash and/or a benefitYesYes
Telephones - employer contracts with supplierCost of rental where private use is more than not significantNoYesNIM06190SE32955
EIM21615
Costs of calls, where private use is more than not significantNoYes
Cost of all private calls reimbursed by employeeNoNo
Telephones - employee contracts with supplierCost of rentalYesNo
Cost of business callsNoNo
Cost of private callsYesNo
Vans, provided and made available for private use (position up to 5 April 2005)Private use is any use other than business travelNoYesSE22050
EIM22050
Vans, provided and made available for private use (position from 6 April 2005)Private use is insignificantNoNo EIM22700
EIM22745
Private use is more than insignificantNoYes
Van fuel for vans provided and made available for private use (position from 6 April 2000 to 5 April 2005)Fuel provided by cash, credit/debit/fuel agency card (litany not used), non-cash voucherYesNoNIM16386SE22130
EIM22068
Van fuel for vans provided and made available for private use (position from 6 April 2005 to 5 April 2007)Fuel provided by cash, credit/debit/fuel agency card (litany not used), non-cash voucherYesNoNIM16387EIM22700
Van fuel for vans provided and made available for private use (position from 6 April 2000 to 5 April 2007)Fuel provided from employer’s pump or by credit/debit/fuel agency card (litany used)NoNoNIM16385EIM22068
EIM22900
Van fuel for vans provided and made available for private use (position from 6 April 2007)Fuel provided by whatever means for more than ordinary commutingNoYesNIM16387
NIM16388
EIM22700
Workplace NurseriesConditions for exemption satisfiedNoNo SE21900
EIM21902
Works transport servicesConditions of section 242 ITEPA 2003 (before 6 April 2003 – section 197AA ICTA 1988) satisfiedNoNo SE21850
EIM21850
Works transport servicesConditions of section 242 ITEPA 2003 (before 6 April 2003 – section 197AA ICTA 1988) not satisfiedNoYes