In permanent employment it is the company that is liable for the Employer’s National Insurance contribution (NIC).
Through an Umbrella Company, it is no different and the Employers NIC still needs to be paid on your assignment income. The rate you are offered to work through an Umbrella Company should be adjusted to allow for the this.
This needs to be taken into consideration when negotiating pay rate with the agency or end client. Please bear in mind that if you were to accept a contract paying the same rate as when you were a permanent member of staff, you would actually take home less money because of the Employer’s NIC.
Employer’s NIC is calculated at 13.8% on earnings above £162 per week and is uncapped so, not taking into account the margin that the Umbrella Company retains, this is the minimum uplift you would need on a permanent rate to achieve a similar net pay. As an example of this; you would need to negotiate £28.45 as the minimum hourly contractor rate to take home a similar net pay as a permanent member of staff earning £25.00 per hour.
You may be offered two different rates, one to be paid directly through the agency’s payroll and another, higher rate, to have your pay processed through an Umbrella Company.
The lower rate will apply if you opt to be paid directly by the agency because they themselves will be liable for the Employer’s NIC. The higher rate is offered if you are being paid through an Umbrella Company because they are liable to pay the contribution.
Provided the difference between the two rates is greater than 13.8%, you will be better off through an Umbrella Company. Remember the assignment income is not your salary rate therefore you are not paying Employers NI, and we show you all deductions made from the assignment rate to Net salary.