NIM24006 - Class 4 NICs: Structure pre 6 April 2003: Calculation of Class 4 NICs for tax years 1975/1976 to 2002/2003

Section 15(3), SSCBA 1992

For all tax years up to and including the 2002/2003 tax years, Class 4 NICs were payable on profits or gains chargeable to income tax under Cases I or II of Schedule D of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1998 (ICTA 1988).

If a self-employed person’s earnings were not taxable under Case I or II of Schedule D of ICTA 1988 there was no liability for Class 4 NICs, except for certain people who were liable to pay special Class 4 NICs, see NIM24200.

The amount of Class 4 NICs due was calculated at a set percentage of the profits or gains for a particular year between the:

  • Lower Profits Limit (LPL) and
  • Upper Profits Limits (UPL)

Profits and gains were always expressed in whole pounds with fractions being disregarded.

No Class 4 NICs were payable on any profits or gains below the LPL or above the UPL but see NIM24030 for guidance on changes to Class 4 NICs liability for all years after 2002/2003.

The LPL and UPL were, and continue to be, prescribed in legislation and are reviewed each year by the Treasury.

The Class 4 NICs rates and LPL and UPL limits for all tax years from 1975/1976 to 2002/2003 are provided at NIM24010.

Examples of Class 4 NICs liability calculations applying to all tax years up to and including the 2002/2003 tax year are provided at NIM24020