NIC Holiday For Employers

The Regional Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Holiday for New Businesses Scheme is a scheme that relieves employers of the need to pay employer NICs in respect of the first ten qualifying employees employed during the first year of their business. This scheme will end on 5 September 2013.

As a sole trader, partnership or company, you must start a new business in the period from 22 June 2010 to 5 September 2013 inclusive. The new business must be set up in a certain area of the country: Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales; or, if in England: the East Midlands, North East, North West, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire or Humber (Greater London, the East and South East of England are excluded).

New businesses may qualify for a reduction of employer NICs up to £5,000 for each of the first ten employees they take on. This means a potential saving up to £50,000 for the business.

If you have recently set up a new company within one of the areas specified above and plan to apply for this scheme, please provide us with the following information and we will take care of the online application form for you:

• your PAYE and Accounts Office references - you will find these in the New Employer Pack sent to you     when you registered as an employer with HMRC
• your business name
• the date your business started
• your business address including the post code
• the region or country your principal business address falls within

Please make sure that you have registered with HMRC as an employer before you apply for the scheme. In the meantime, we kindly remind you that this scheme will expire on 5 September 2013, and so requires your immediate action if you wish to apply.