National Insurance

There is "no overriding reason" why a merger of national insurance (NI) and income tax should not go ahead, an actuary says.

The government plans to save money by distributing National Insurance numbers via a letter rather than a plastic card, as part of its drive to reduce the deficit.

National Insurance Contributions (NICs) holidays have come into effect for new businesses outside London, the South East and East of England.

Debt reduction is "the most urgent issue facing Britain," according to the Con-Lib coalition's Programme for Government, published today.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) will oppose Labour's planned 1% National Insurance (NI) rise because it says this would delay efforts to get people back to work.

Gordon Brown and David Cameron clashed over the economy in the final Prime Minister's question time before the General Election.

The Conservatives will try to seize the electoral initiative today with a pledge to reverse part of Labour's national insurance rise due to come into effect next year.

The Government is understood to be considering plans to offload its stakes in Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland just weeks after the General Election.

The Chancellor will not make any changes to VAT, income tax or national insurance (NI) rates.

GRiD, the trade organisation for the Group Risk industry, has called for a National Insurance reduction for firms with Group Income Protection Schemes.