Do you pay NI if you earn under the threshold to pay tax ?

[SimonTheSailor]

If you earn under the 11K threshold for paying tax (2016/17) do you have to pay National Insurance ?

I know you can pay voluntary contributions if you want but are you required by law to pay it ?

[SimonTheSailor]

Eh, what ?!

So if I've been earning 10K through rental income of my house and earning nothing else, I will have paid no tax but should have paid some NI ?

When I did my tax return it says NIL to income but didn't ask for anything else ? How do I pay NI then if I have to ?!

(So is it actually better for me to earn under the 8K ?!)

[SimonTheSailor]

Yes just logged in and checked, its only talking about voluntary contributions, hasn't asked for actual payments.

[SimonTheSailor]

Ok thanks, makes sense now. Thought i had done something wrong and owed somebody !!

[SimonTheSailor]

Because it goes to things like support health care which your parents or children might use.