Lilley targets national insurance contributions

(First Edition)

EMPLOYERS face tougher surveillance and more help over national insurance payments under new targets set for the Contributions Agency which collects national insurance contributions, writes Nicholas Timmins.

The targets should bring in at least an extra pounds 25m in national insurance payments, while identifying another 40,000 self-employed people who should be registered.

Under targets set by Peter Lilley, the Secretary of State for Social Security, employer visits by inspectors are to increase by 30percent this year.

Ann Chant, the agency's chief executive, said the number of visits is set to rise from 88,000 last year to 114,000. Of those, 17,000 are designed to give advice and assistance.

The extra visits, Ms Chant said, would 'help employers who face difficulties get their national insurance returns right first time round and create a more efficient system by increasing the amount of revenue collected'.

Other targets include identifying at least another 40,000 self-employed people who should be registered for national insurance purposes, and another pounds 12m in underpayments, while increasing the collection of arrears by pounds 13.3m or 6 per cent.