National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill 2024-26


Make provision to amend section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, and section 4 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992, so that amounts of salary sacrificed for employer pensions contributions pursuant to optional remuneration arrangements are liable to national insurance contributions.

Government Bill

(HM Treasury)
What is this Bill?

The National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill is a Government Bill tabled by a Minister of the Crown.

Is this Bill currently before Parliament?

Yes. This Bill was introduced on 04 December 2025 and is currently before Parliament.

Whose idea is this Bill?

Government Bills implement the legislative agenda of the Government. This agenda, and the Bills that will implement it, are outlined in the Queen's Speech at the Session's State Opening of Parliament.

What type of Bill is this?

Government Bills are technically Presentation Bills, but the Government can use its legislative time to ensure the schedule of debates to scrutinise the Bill.

So is this going to become a law?

Though the Bill can be amended from its original form, the Bill will almost certainly be enacted in law before the end of the Session, or will be carried over to the subsequent Session.

How can I find out exactly what this Bill does?

The most straightforward information is contained in the initial Explanatory Notes for the Bill.

Would you like to know more?

See these Glossary articles for more information: Government Bills, Process of a Bill

Official Bill Page Initial Explanatory Notes Initial Briefing papers Ministerial Extracts from Debates All Bill Debates

Next Event: Wednesday 21st January 2026 - Committee of the whole House

Last Event: Wednesday 17th December 2025 - 2nd reading (Commons)

14 Amendments have been proposed for this Bill
View Amendments

Bill Progession through Parliament

Commons - 40%

Latest Key documents

Bill Debate
17/12/2025
Explanatory Note
04/12/2025

Timeline of Bill Documents and Stages

21st January 2026
3rd reading (Commons)
21st January 2026
Committee of the whole House (Commons)
19th January 2026
Amendment Paper
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026

7

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 19 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

Clause 1, page 2, line 26, leave out from “as” to end and insert “the amount calculated under subsection (5) for a tax year (but subject to any provision made in reliance on subsection (6C)(a) or (b) of that section).
(5) In 2029-30 the contributions limit must be set at a figure equal to £2,000 uprated by any percentage change in the consumer price index between 2026-27 and 2028-29.
(6) In subsequent tax years the contributions limit must be uprated by the same percentage change as that applied to the consumer price index that year.”


Explanatory Text

This amendment would uprate the £2,000 cap by the percentage change in the consumer price index during the period before 2029-30, and would require the cap to be uprated by the same percentage as the change in the consumer price index each year thereafter.

8

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 19 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

Clause 2, page 3, lines 39, leave out from “as” to end and insert “the amount calculated under subsection (5) for a tax year (but subject to any provision made in reliance on subsection (6C)(a) or (b) of that section).
(5) In 2029-30 the contributions limit must be set at a figure equal to £2,000 uprated by any percentage change in the consumer price index between 2026-27 and 2028-29.
(6) In subsequent tax years the contributions limit must be uprated by the same percentage change as that applied to the consumer price index that year.”


Explanatory Text

This amendment would uprate the £2,000 cap in Northern Ireland by the percentage change in the consumer price index during the period before 2029-30, and would require the cap to be uprated by the same percentage as the change in the consumer price index each year thereafter.

16th January 2026
Amendment Paper
Notices of Amendments as at 16 January 2026

5

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

Clause 1, page 1, line 10, after “income tax” insert “at the higher or additional rate”


Explanatory Text

This amendment would exempt basic rate taxpayers in England, Wales and Scotland from the £2,000 cap.

1

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was Withdrawn

Clause 1, page 2, line 26, leave out “£2,000” and insert “the amount calculated under subsection (5)”


Explanatory Text

This amendment, with Amendment 2 would uprate the £2,000 cap by the percentage change in the national living wage during the period before 2029-30, and would require the cap to be uprated by the same percentage as the change in the national living wage each year thereafter.

2

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was Withdrawn

Clause 1, page 2, line 27, at end insert—
“(5) In 2029-30 the contributions limit must be set at a figure equal to £2,000 uprated by any percentage change in the national living wage between 2026-27 and 2028-29.
(6) In subsequent tax years the contributions limit must be uprated by the same percentage change as that applied to the national living wage that year.”


Explanatory Text

This amendment, with Amendment 1 would uprate the £2,000 cap by the percentage change in the national living wage during the period before 2029-30, and would require the cap to be uprated by the same percentage as the change in the national living wage each year thereafter.

6

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

Clause 2, page 2, line 38, after “income tax” insert “at the higher or additional rate”


Explanatory Text

This amendment would exempt basic rate taxpayers in Northern Ireland from the £2,000 cap.

3

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was Withdrawn

Clause 2, page 3, lines 39, leave out “£2000” and insert “the amount calculated under subsection (5)”


Explanatory Text

This amendment has the same effect as Amendment 1, but for Northern Ireland.

4

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was Withdrawn

Clause 2, page 3, line 41, at end insert—
“(5) In 2029-30 the contributions limit must be set at figure equal to £2,000 uprated by any percentage change in the national living wage between 2026-27 and 2028-29.
(6) In subsequent tax years the contributions limit must be uprated by the same percentage change as that applied to the national living wage that year.”


Explanatory Text

This amendment has the same effect as Amendment 2, but for Northern Ireland.

NC4

Mark Garnier (Con) - Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Work and Pensions)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

To move the following Clause—
“Reviews of the impact of the Act
(1) The Treasury must, before March 2029, lay before Parliament an assessment of the impact of the changes made under this Act.
(2) The assessment made under subsection (1) must consider—
(a) the adequacy of pension contributions made by or on behalf of individuals affected by this Act,
(b) use of salary sacrifice schemes and optional remuneration arrangements, and
(c) any effects on the investment capability of UK pension funds.
(3) The Treasury must lay before Parliament a follow-up assessment of the impact of the changes made under this Act before March 2034.”


Explanatory Text

This new clause would require the Treasury to undertake an impact assessment of the effect of the change made under this Act, before they take effect, and again five years later.

NC5

Charlie Maynard (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

To move the following Clause—
“Calculation and publication of lifetime pension values
(1) The Treasury must calculate and publish the projected lifetime value of an individual’s pension before and after the changes made by under this Act.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the projected lifetime value is the total amount of pension income an individual is expected to receive over their lifetime.
(3) The calculations made under subsection (1) must—
(a) be based on clearly stated assumptions, and
(b) include illustrative examples covering different pension entitlements.”

NC6

Charlie Maynard (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)
Tabled: 16 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

To move the following Clause—
“Assessment of changes to pension saving through salary sacrifice schemes
(1) The Chancellor of the Exchequer must, within 15 months of the provisions of this Act coming into effect, lay before Parliament an assessment of the effect of this Act on the amount saved into pensions through salary sacrifice schemes.
(2) The assessment made under subsection (1) must include an—
(a) estimate of the total amount saved into pensions through salary sacrifice schemes in the 12 months preceding the provisions of this Act coming into effect,
(b) estimate of the total amount saved into pensions through salary sacrifice schemes in the 12 months following the provisions of this Act coming into effect, and
(c) an assessment of the difference between those amounts.”

15th January 2026
Amendment Paper
Notices of Amendments as at 15 January 2026

NC1

Charlie Maynard (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)
Tabled: 15 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

To move the following Clause—
“Review of impact on SME recruitment and retention
(1) The Treasury must, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay before Parliament a report assessing the effect of its provisions on small and medium-sized businesses with regard to the—
(a) recruitment of staff, and
(b) retention of staff.
(2) The report under subsection (1) must also consider the cumulative impact of changes to employer’s national insurance on businesses affected by this Act since July 2024.”


Explanatory Text

This new clause would require the Treasury to review and report on the impact of the Bill’s provisions relating to National Insurance contributions on the ability of SMEs to recruit and retain staff.

NC2

Charlie Maynard (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)
Tabled: 15 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

To move the following Clause—
“Review of impact on small and medium-sized business tax liabilities
(1) The Treasury must, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay before Parliament a report assessing the effect of its provisions on small and medium-sized businesses with regard to—
(a) businesses’ overall tax burden,
(b) employment costs, and
(c) business solvency.
(2) The report under subsection (1) must also consider the cumulative impact of changes to employer’s national insurance on businesses affected by this Act since July 2024.”


Explanatory Text

This new clause would require the Treasury to review and report on the impact of the Bill’s provisions relating to National Insurance contributions on the overall tax burden and employment costs faced by SMEs.

NC3

Charlie Maynard (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Chief Secretary to the Treasury)
Tabled: 15 Jan 2026
Notices of Amendments as at 19 January 2026
This amendment was No Decision

To move the following Clause—
“Review of impact on employee marginal tax rates
(1) The Treasury must, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay before Parliament a report assessing the effect of its provisions on the number of employees brought into a higher marginal rate of income tax.
(2) The report under subsection (1) must give particular regard to the impact of the freezing of income tax thresholds between April 2022 and April 2031.”


Explanatory Text

This new clause would require the Treasury to review and report on the impact of the Bill’s provisions relating to National Insurance contributions on the number of employees who move into a higher tax band due the increase in their taxable income due to the effects of this Bill.

17th December 2025
2nd reading (Commons)
17th December 2025
Programme motion
12th December 2025
Briefing papers
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
4th December 2025
Bill
Bill 344 2024-26 (as introduced)
4th December 2025
Bill
Bill 344 2024-26 (as introduced) - xml download
4th December 2025
1st reading (Commons)
4th December 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum
Delegated Powers Memorandum from the HM Treasury
4th December 2025
Explanatory Notes
Bill 344 EN 2024-26