CRS News Flash 24 January 2024 – BAHRAIN and THE UNITED KINGDOM – Recent legislative changes for 2024
JANUARY 2024 – BAHRAIN and THE UNITED KINGDOM
RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES FOR 2024 It is important that employers note the following:
BAHRAIN
Social insurance increase
With the implementation of Law No. (14) of 2022, effective from May 2022, the social insurance contribution of the Bahraini national workers’ employers’ contribution was increased by 2% as of May 2022 and will be increased by 1% at the beginning of each year, beginning in January 2023 and ending January 2028. This will bring the total percentage of the employer’s contribution to 20% by 2028.
The employee contribution was increased by 1% in January 2023 to bring the contribution rate to 7%. The Bahraini employee social insurance contribution rate and unemployment insurance rate will remain unchanged at 7% and 1% respectively.
Below is an illustration of the contributions up to the year 2028.
Law No. 14 of 2022 is unfortunately only available in Arabic.
THE UNITED KINGDOM National Insurance Contributions (NICs)
At Autumn Statement 2023, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that the headline rate of Class 1 NICs would be reduced. He added that he wanted people to “see the benefit in their payslips” sooner, rather than having to wait for the new tax year. He subsequently introduced urgent legislation (the National Insurance Contribution (Reduction in Rates) Bill 2023-24) so that the measure could be implemented on 6 January.
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill, the bill received Royal Assent on 18 December and is now an Act of Parliament.
The National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Act, 2023 implements three changes:
· A cut in the primary Class 1 NICs main rate paid by employees from 12% to 10%. This rate cut would apply from 6 January 2024.
· A cut in the main rate of NICs paid by the self-employed (Class 4 NICs) from 9% to 8%. This rate cut would apply from 6 April 2024.
· Cancelling the requirement of the self-employed to pay the flat rate NICs charge (Class 2 NICs), which applies when someone’s annual profit exceeds a set threshold (the ‘lower profits threshold’). This threshold is currently £12,570. This change would take effect from 6 April 2024.
Class 1 National Insurance contribution rates
The Class 1 National Insurance rates for employed people for the 2023 to 2024 tax year are:
Employer contribution rates remain the same.
To view the National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Act, 2023, follow the link.
