HM Revenue & Customs
Lets an employer pay 0% National Insurance on a qualifying veteran's earnings, up to the Upper Secondary Threshold, for their first 12 months of civilian employment — a direct cost saving designed to encourage hiring ex-forces personnel. The veteran needs to have completed at least one day of basic training in the UK regular armed forces, and this must be their first civilian job since leaving; the relief can even be claimed retrospectively through payroll.
Amount
0% employer National Insurance on veteran earnings up to the Upper Secondary Threshold, for 12 months
Deadline
Rolling / no fixed deadline
R&D claims and business grants are exactly where a specialist can make the biggest difference — both in claim size and time saved. We're building relationships with vetted professionals who can help with applications like this — register your interest and we'll follow up when we have someone to recommend.
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You can also do this yourself for free via the official sourceApply the relief through payroll software using the veteran's start date; can be claimed retrospectively.
View official sourceLast verified: 1 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.