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Autumn Statement 2016: Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced that employer and employee national insurance (NI) thresholds will be aligned from April 2017.

This will see both employees and employers start paying NI on weekly earnings above £157. This will simplify the payment of NI for employers.

The current thresholds for 2016/17 stand at £155 per week for employees and £156 for employers.

Genevieve Moore, partner at accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg, said: “The Chancellor announced an alignment of employees and employers NI thresholds and this to be a cost to employers.

"It is unlikely that this will be a barrier to employment, but the largest employers will pay the most; and they’re not necessarily the most profitable businesses."