National Insurance & Income Tax
National Insurance: mandatory contributions from all workers in the UK
If you intend to work in the UK your employer will require you to provide them with a National Insurance Number (NINo) so that they can pay your wages and make any applicable tax or national insurance deductions. National insurance payments go towards meeting the national cost of providing social assistance and welfare.
UK residents are allocated a NINo automatically at the age of 16. However, EU or international students will need to apply for one. You have to be interviewed in person to get a NINo and this can be done in two ways:
- In St Andrews during semester-time we have made arrangements for a team of NINo Officers from Edinburgh to visit the Careers Centre to carry out interviews. The dates are advertised on the Events section of our website and by weekly email – please contact Linda Nicolson at the Careers Centre to organise your appointment (tel: 01334 462688, email career@st-andrews.ac.uk)
- Alternatively you can telephone the National Insurance Office helpline – 0845 600 0643 to book an application interview at a JobCentrePlus Office (usually in Dundee or Edinburgh).
Income Tax
Employers in the UK must collect the income tax due from each of their employees on behalf of the Government. They do so by deducting the tax due from your wages and passing it on. In practice, most students don't earn enough money in a year to be liable for an overall tax bill but often have to pay the tax initially and re-claim it. Make sure you know about your rights and obligations, eg via the NASES More than Work website.
Money Matters, Tax and Budgeting
For advice on money matters such as tax refunds contact Joyce Lapeyre (Money Adviser) at Student Services in the Student Union Building (tel: 13334 462720 or email money@st-andrews.ac.uk