What happens if I have other income as well as my earnings?
The Tax Office sends out forms at the end of each tax year asking for information on income. These are called Tax Returns. If you are sent one, you must enter details of all the income you receive.

If you do not get a Tax Return and receive other income as well as your earnings, you should contact your Tax Office and ask for one. If the income is not taxed before you get it, or if you are paying tax at a higher rate, your PAYE code may need to be changed. This is so you can pay any tax due on the additional income at the same time as the tax on your earnings.

National Insurance
Most people who work must pay NI contributions. These enable you to get Jobseeker's allowance, Incapacity Benefit and, in due course, the state retirement pension (if it is still available when you are in your dotage). You do not have to pay if you are unemployed.

Each month you will pay NI contribution on what you earn over £329 and up to £2, 318, generally this comes to about 10% of your salary. If your employer runs an occupational pension scheme your contribution is reduced to 8.6%.

Students in full-time education at college or university do not have to pay NI contributions. However, if you work for someone else or are self-employed whilst in full-time education and earn at least a certain amount (which is known as the Lower Earnings Level) you must pay NI contributions.

By the time you're 16 you should have received your NI Numbercard from the Contributions Agency. For more information, see their leaflet FB23 'Young People's Guide to Social Security' which you can get from your local Social Security or Contributions Agency Office.

Health insurance
Employers can offer private health insurance as part of a bonus package. In most cases this can pay for consultations, tests and operations with a private room and without the need for joining a waiting list. Most importantly you can be treated within days - the quickest route back to full health.

As a general rule this scheme is offered by larger companies who may provide cover that encompasses your immediate family. If a company provides this kind of cover, then the Inland Revenue regards the cost of the cover as a taxable benefit and a deduction is generally made in your tax coding.