NIM02205 - Class 1 NICs: Earnings of employees and office holders: Honoraria and similar payments
Section 3(1) Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992
A true 鈥渉onoraria鈥 is generally a payment received by an office holder. It may only be a token payment rather than a commercial fee, but it is clearly a payment which results from holding the office. Such payments are 鈥渆arnings鈥 for the purposes of section 3(1) SSCBA 1992 and will be liable for Class 1 NICs.
Employers may sometimes give 鈥渆x gratia鈥 payments, similar to 鈥渉onoraria鈥, to employees to recognise the fact that they have been involved in certain activities not arising from their employment, and that, in relation to those activities, they will not receive any other form of reward.
For example, a car worker who served in an unpaid capacity as the works sports club secretary and received a payment from the employer in recognition of the valuable service he had given to the club.
There will be a liability for Class 1 NICs in these circumstances because the payment will derive from the employment and will therefore be 鈥渆arnings鈥 for the purposes of NICs.
See NIM02010 for general guidance on the meaning of 鈥渆arnings鈥.