18 digits reference number of volunteer NI contributions

Hi, I need to get my 18 digits NI reference for volunteer payment, spent over a week trying to get through to both 0800 731 0175 and 03002003500, they just let you to listen and select multiple options and then cut the call, don't even place you in the queue. Is there any other way to get the number apart from via phone call? I don't have any HMRC letters or any other docs with this?

I absolutely agree I have had exactly the same issue and the service is awful . Going through a string of options then being cut off. I have looked at payslips and p60 and I cannot find the 18 digit reference they mention ..

It's quite ridiculous. I currently live overseas and want to pay voluntary contributions for 2014 and 2015. After being cut off 5 times like you I was advised the only way to get the 18 digit reference number is to send a form by courier and wait for them to post me a letter back (there is no reliable postal service where I live). Why this can't be automated is beyond me.

Hi I am in the exact situation..How do I get my National Insurance 18 digit reference number to pay gaps with class 3. It is not on my personal tax account and I cannot get through on any hrmc telephone numbers

Newuser123 same issues- listen to all the options then cut off twice . I only have my NI number. Doesn’t seem to be another way to get the 18 digit reference number. 😡

Exactly the same for me. I've spent several days sitting in a Q with both HMRC and Future Pensions and just get hung up on. The website says to contact HMRC for the 18 digit reference number. When I finally get through no doubt this number will then be sent by post or something.. .I don't know what else to do

I had exactly the same experience and trying to get my 18 digit number for over a week. Could you please let me know what form you have been advised to send for and where to get it from.

Hi Newuser123,

You must contact DWP before sending any payments to HMRC. DWP will be able to advise you what years it is best for you to pay, and if you will benefit from paying them. Although these contributions are voluntary, they cannot be refunded if paid incorrectly, therefore you should ensure that you will benefit from making the payment.

Once you have confirmed with DWP that you will benefit from paying for a particular tax year, if you are still unable to get through to an advisor at HMRC for your 18 digit reference number, you can then send HMRC your payment by cheque, without an 18 digit reference number. Please see the following information on how to pay by cheque.

You can pay by sending a cheque to:
HM Revenue and Customs
National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office
BX9 1AN

Allow 3 working days for your payment to reach HMRC.

What to include:

• Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’.
• Write your Class 3 National Insurance reference number on the back of the cheque. You’ll find this on your payslip.
• Include the payslip HMRC sent you. Do not fold your HMRC payslip or cheque, or fasten them together.
• If you want a receipt, include a note asking for one.

If you do not have an HMRC payslip, include a note with:

• your name, address and phone number
• your Class 3 National Insurance contributions reference number (or National Insurance number)
• how much you’re paying
• the period you’re paying for

Further information on how to pay can be found here:

Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance

Thank you.

 

Hi rita8081,

We are sorry to hear that you have been unable to speak to an advisor at HMRC, our lines are extremely busy at present. The only way to obtain your 18 digit reference number would be to speak to an advisor or alternatively you can make a payment by cheque without an 18 digit reference number.

If you would like to pay voluntary contributions to increase your state pension you can find more information here:
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance

For UK residents, the first thing you will need to do is to contact DWP.  The reason we require you to contact DWP is because they will be able to advise you what years it is best for you to pay, and if you will benefit from paying them. Although these contributions are voluntary they cannot be refunded if paid incorrectly, therefore you should ensure that you will benefit from making the payment. 

If you are below pension age you should contact the Future Pension Centre.
Contact the Future Pension Centre

If you are over pension age you should contact the Pension Service.
Contact the Pension Service

Once you have this information you have 2 options:

1. You can contact HMRC to obtain an 18 digit reference number.  You can then use this number to pay online, at your bank, or via online banking.
   National Insurance: general enquiries
2.  You can write to us, and include a cheque for the amount DWP have advised you can be paid.  You should include your National Insurance number and the years you would like to pay on the reverse of the cheque and include a covering letter.
   Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance by cheque through the post

The address to write to is:

HM Revenue and Customs
National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office
BX9 1AN

Include a note with your cheque providing the following information:

• your name, address and phone number
• your Class 3 National Insurance contributions reference number (or National Insurance number)
• how much you’re paying
• the period you’re paying for

HMRC will accept your original date of contact, and the date the payment is received will be honoured. However, it may take up to 8 weeks for your National Insurance record to be updated.

For customers who reside overseas you will need to read the booklet NI38, and complete the CF83, making sure you tick the option that you would like to know what arrears you can pay.

We will accept the date your CF83 is received by HMRC as your date of contact.  For overseas customer it can take longer for your payments to show on your National Insurance account.

If you require a receipt for any payment made, you must ask for this.

Thank you
 

Hi. Like everyone else here I am attempting to contact dwp &/or HMRC to confirm my contributions situation & to make voluntary class 2 (I think!) contributions. I do have my NI record but it is unclear. I don’t have an 18 digit ref, but note your instructions for paying without it. However I also note that payments made erroneously cannot be refunded, and I therefore need to talk to dwp or HMRC before paying. It is absolutely impossible to get through by tel- I’ve repeatedly tried at all times the lines are open - actually queued today for 1hr 13 mins only to be cut off at precisely 1.00pm! What can I do????

It is very clear everyone is in the same boat! I managed to get through about two months ago and made a payment for one missing year and the good news is that it has been credited to my wife's account so the system ultimately works. We now need to pay a further two years missing contributions but I am unclear if the 18 digit reference number I was given before is unique and can be used again (very likely it is but I want to be 100% certain). The delays on the telephone are incredible and to then to get unceremoniously cut off (experienced twice) is a sickening feeling. Just called again 5 minutes ago and didn't even make the queue. I note it seems we can post a cheque with the standard NI number as a reference so that is my plan. Good luck all!

I agree with Etteloc that I'm not happy about paying without speaking to an advisor to get my 18 digit number for this year. I had one for last year but I don't feel happy using it again given the information on this forum. Is the only safe option to wait to speak to an advisor to get the number? Could we have some reassurance that this will be easier after 5 April?

So what are people doing top get help? I need an 18-digit reference too, am currently 51 minutes on hold to 0300 200 3500, my 'call is important' to them apparently, but there's no virtual queue, and it's just playing the same 25-second clip advising me that there's lots of help and information on the website. I have six years to pay, only a couple of them in succession, and I really don't trust them to pay the right ones off if I just lump the full amount on to a cheque and post it to them. There's not enough on the website btw, or I wouldn't be wasting my time hanging on the telephone.

To both Blackheath58 and marktall in the string above... I won't trust that the 18 digit number is the same for more than one payment and having been given the number verbally by someone from HMRC as it was for us first time round. I note no simple answer on this key point from HMRC Admin. My plan is to send a single cheque with a supporting letter advising what years to pay as advised from HMRCAdmin in the string above. I will at least know when the cheque has been banked and cleared.

Same experience as above, tried contacting the Future Pension Service and following several menus, cut off immediately. Numerous attempts over the last week at different times of the day. No joy!!! Why does this service not have a queueing system? Additionally, why are we required to provide a totally different number, (NI reference number), when everyone has a unique NI number that can be used to identify individuals. Like most people that have commented above, no one appears to be familiar with the NI reference number. There is a provision to pay online, but this cannot be used because you need a NI Reference number. Instead we are asked to send a cheque and an explanatory letter. Is this efficient? If we cannot get through to the Future Pension Service to determine whether making voluntary contributions will contribute to our pension, and we are advised to not make a payment until we have spoken to this department, what is the DWP doing to make this process easier? My fear is that although the deadline has been extended to July 31st, we will be no further forward at that point.

Dear HMRC Admin 32, when you say “ We will accept the date your CF83 is received by HMRC as your date of contact”. Does that mean if you receive my CF83 in the coming weeks, I will have effectively met the 31 July 2023 deadline, even if it takes HMRC longer than that to process my CF83 and send me an 18 digit code? Thanks.

Hi Blackheath58,

We do not encourage reusing existing 18 digit reference numbers as they contain both your NI number and the amount you are paying within the code.  

That said if the reference contains 99999 near the front and the amount being paid is over £1000 then you could reuse the reference number.  

The extension of the deadline until 31 July hopefully will ease demand so you should be able to contact us.

Thank you.
 

I got my 18 digit reference number from HMRC and I paid 9,066.20 through the link online to cover 11 years of class 3 gaps from 2006/7 to 2016/17. My account has now been updated but only one year has been filled in - 2016/17. The rest aren't showing contributions. Is this normal? Will the other years be added at different times? Thank you.

Will HMRC accept a cheque from my parents? I don't have a UK cheque book, so unsure how I can facilitate the payment, other than transferring money to my parents and having them cut the cheque....? Has anyone else dealt with this? I can't believe how it's this complicated in this day and age of banking technology.....

Well, to my surprise, I did manage to get through to the Future Pension Service at 1 minute past 8 on Monday. I then was on hold with music for about 50 minutes. When I did speak to someone, they were very helpful and informative. Advised me against paying up a partial year 2015/16 as this would not add to my state pension amount. They also advised my wife on the same call, thereby avoiding another call. Very pleased that we spoke to the FPS ahead of making any payments. All I can say is keep trying to get through as the information provided is useful in deciding whether or not to pay NI voluntary contributions. You need to contact HMRC to obtain the 18 digit code to pay online. Like many of us, I do not possess a chequebook and I would be reluctant to send a cheque as inevitably there is no traceability until it is cashed and relies on someone applying the payment to the correct year, and we know how that could go!