If you’re a professional athlete, there’s a lot that goes into your career from training, competition, contracts and maybe even sponsorships. There is probably very little headspace left for thinking about frankly boring things like National Insurance contributions.
Let’s be honest, it’s not the most exciting subject. But, it is one of those details that could make a huge difference to your financial future, particularly once your sporting career slows down or ends.
Let me explain why making sure you’re paying the right amount of National Insurance contributions (NIC) is so important, especially if you play an individual sport where there isn’t a club taking care of payroll and NI contributions on your behalf.
What is National Insurance?
National Insurance is basically your pass to certain state benefits. You pay contributions (usually through your earnings), and in return you build up entitlement to some benefits like the State Pension, and certain safety nets if you’re unable to work.
It’s not the same as income tax, although if you are employed it gets deducted by your employer in the same way.
Why does it matter for professional athletes?
You know and I know that sports careers can be unpredictable. You might be earning well now from prize money, sponsorships or endorsements, but that might not last forever. And unlike someone in a 9–5 job, there’s no HR department making sure your NI is sorted. That’s down to you.
If you don’t keep up with your contributions, you could hit retirement age and find you don’t qualify for a full State Pension. Right now, you need at least 35 qualifying years of NI payments to get the full pension. If you’ve got gaps, you get less. And while a pension might feel like a lifetime away, I promise you your future self will thank you for paying attention to this now.
It’s not just pensions
National Insurance also affects things like:
Maternity allowance – important if you’re planning a family
New-style Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment & Support Allowance – if injury or other issues leave you unable to compete
Bereavement support – financial help for your loved ones if the worst should happen
So it’s not just about later life – it’s about protecting yourself and your family along the way.
The common pitfalls
From working with athletes, I see a few regular traps people fall into:
Assuming sponsorship deals sort it out – They don’t. NI is linked to your taxable income, so if you’re self-employed (which most individual athletes are), you need to file a tax return and pay NI yourself.
Assuming your accountant will do it – They might, but they might not. I have worked with athletes who have an accountant to submit their self assessment but they are organising NICs either and they simply get missed.
Gaps in contributions – If you take a career break, travel abroad, or don’t earn enough in a tax year to trigger NI, you might not clock up a “qualifying year”. This can add up over time.
Not checking your record – You can easily view your NI record on the government’s website. It’ll show you if you’ve got missing years and whether you’re on track for a full pension.
What can you do?
Check your NI record. It takes five minutes online using the Government Gateway. https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services
Pay voluntary contributions if you’ve got gaps. This can plug holes and make sure you don’t lose out in the long run.
Get advice; especially if your income is irregular or comes from different sources (like prize money, appearance fees or endorsements). An accountant or financial planner who understands sports careers can help. If you are working with one already, ask them to confirm that you are paying NICs.
I know when you’re at the peak of your sporting career, retirement feels like another world. But your career in sport is relatively short compared to the rest of your life. Making sure you’ve got those NI contributions covered is a small step that could make a massive difference later.