How to Pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions from Abroad

Hi lorenza Marini,
The CF83 application can be used for people who have been abroad or are currently abroad and wish to pay Voluntary Contributions for the periods.
The application can be found at Social Security abroad: NI38.
Your online account will show the amounts at Class 3 rate however you may be eligible to pay at Class 2 rate.
Please read information regarding Class 2 and Class 3 
The application needs to be received by 5 April 2025 and when processed the timescales will be given.
Thank you.

Hi, I was told weeks ago that my case would be escalated to the INTERNATIONAL CASEWORKER DEPARTMENT. I was also told I would be contacted in 2 working days but as always that never happens. I completed the CF83 then paid the assessed shortfall requested on 11 April 2024. Finally got acknowledgment that money was received in Sept 2024 after first being told they had no trace of any payment. The money is still not allocated to my NI record. I’ve been told it will be escalated to an International Caseworker on more than one occasion. NOTHING HAPPENS. Why is this so difficult? Why is there progress or way to contact the international caseworker department? Please don’t tell me to call +44 191 203 7010 as they tell me someone will contact me and it never happens.

Hi, Thanks for this. Just to clarify: let's say I apply now but the application is not ready by April 5th, what shall I do? Can I pay the full amount and then when the application is ready get refunded if entitled to or...how else? Thanks. Lorenza

HMRC Admin 21, thank you for your posted response on 25-Nov. So I need to fill out a new CF83 to get the online shortfall payment record updated? Please note I already have a hard copy letter with the updated/correct Class 2 NIC amounts stated. I'm hoping to get all shortfall payments completed from my UK bank account before the end of 2024, I'm just nervous about where the payments are going as no payments are shown as received on the online record. I made payments to "HMRC NI Contributions" with the required details (my NI number etc.) on 03-Jun, 01-Aug & 30-Oct.

Hi lorenza Marini,
Providing your CF83 application form is received by 5 April 2025, then you will not be penalised in any way be our delay in processing it.  
You will be given extra time to pay any voluntary contributions that you may wish to make.
Thank you.

I contacted the international pension centre as you advised a week ago, about no reply to letters and 2 cf83 forms filled in nearly two years ago. I got an e-mail reply yesterday saying I could only pay a few weeks class2 as only a few trimesters valid,? Why I have been fully self-employed since 2008 here and make my declaration eact three months and pay whatever charges due, Do you not class autoentropener as self employed?, yes I never earn a lot as it's teaching privately. My points are listed but have not been taken into account by yourselves even though I sent hmrc a copy of employment record, or is it that you are only classed as eligible for class 2 top up if you are a high earner, can you please give an answer, and as I am dyslexic may be misunderstanding something

Hi
If you call our National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500 (from the UK) or +44 191 203 7010 (from overseas) they will be able to check that your payments are recorded and arrange for them to be allocated to your National Insurance account.  They will then be reflected on your Personal Tax Account.  You may wish to have your payment details with you when you call.

 

Good afternoon, I completed all the relevant forms and sent payment to fill in the gaps in my NI record on 26/06/24. This has yet to be reflected on my account. When might I expect this to be done? Many thanks.

Hi Gwen
Sorry for the problems that you are experiencing regarding your payment of voluntary National Insurance contributions.  If you could call our National Insurance Helpline and ask for a manager to call you back then they should be able to help you further.  If you’d rather write in to the International Teams then the address is:-
PT Operations North East England
HM Revenue & Customs
BX9 1AN
United Kingdom
 

Why would you reply telling me to call the same number I have been calling. I already said in my previous post that I have repeatedly been promised a manager will call me back but they never do! I have been told it’s been escalated to an International Case Worker but that’s meaningless too. Admittedly being on the West Coast of Canada is a difficult time zone gap but I’ve stated I will accept a call regardless of time as this is just dragging on too long. When I call there is NEVER a manager available that day. Please offer a better solution. Contact me via the HMRC app it has security to allow secure messages. There are so many ways this service could be improved.

I filled out my CF83 form a few weeks ago and have since received the shortfall letter outlining the class 2 and 3 rates and amounts to pay. Importantly, there were no bank details noted on the shortfall letter, but I see you have provided some already on this forum. My questions largely relates to what has been posted already : 1. Can I take the amounts to pay noted on this shortfall letter as being correct ? 2. Do I need to make two payments : one for class 2 amounts and another for class 3 ? 3. Can I pay it from my UK bank account rather than from that of my country of residence ? 4. Can I use the formula noted in your previous answers if paying by bank transfer ? I.e. "national insurance number followed by ‘IC’, surname then initial". Many thanks in advance.

Hi manalive,
Details of how to make your payment of voluntary National Insurance contributions may be found via:
 Pay Class 2 National Insurance if you do not pay through Self Assessment.
You may use these bank details for both of your voluntary Class 2 and voluntary Class 3 contributions – you do not need to send them separately.  
As you have mentioned, the 18 Digit Reference Number that you would use is:  
Your National Insurance Number, followed by IC then your surname and initial.  
Please use the amounts as detailed in our letter when paying any voluntary contributions.  
Please allow about 8 weeks from the date you make your payment for it to be shown on your Personal Tax Account.
Thank you.
 

Hi Nigel vellam Vellam,
Sometimes paying shortfalls of voluntary National Insurance contributions may not increase your entitlement to the UK State Pension which may be why The Pension Service have only quoted certain tax years for you.  
If you could speak with the International Pension Centre on +44 (0)191 2187777 they will be able to help you further.
Thank you.

Hi Admin 10, I think you post on Dec-9 was intended in response to me, so thanks. I have called the HMRC helpline almost every weekday in the last three months, conservatively I'd say 50 times. I'm calling from 6hrs behind UK so its invariably early/midafternoon your time. I have not been able to talk to a staff person yet, getting cut-off every time. It is mentioned several times by admin on this thread that the make-up contributions will be reflected on the NI record page 8 weeks after receipt. I made a payment (at least I thought I did) in June, more than 22 weeks ago. No payments are yet reflected on my online record. I want all shortfalls made by end of this year, so that they will be (hopefully) reflected by the April 2025 deadline. I am now blindly going to hope these contributions are going to the right place: HMRC NI CONTRIBUTI - SORT - 08-32-20 ACCT - 12001004 with the reference mentioned up the thread. Here's hoping.

I have now made all the shortfall payments, just shy of 2500GBP. Its more than a little disconcerting that there is no record of these payments at HMRC end. According to Future Pension Centre (they seem to be adequately staffed at least), the money is "just sitting there" waiting for me to call and inform HMRC of the years I want to apply the funds to, the answer is now "all of them" as the total payments sent is now equal to the total payable gap shortfall. Future Pension Centre also informed me that there is no other way to get the funds allocated correctly, only a phone call can get it done. It's a shame nobody at HMRC ever answers those calls. They also told me that best time to call HMRC is 8am, thus I will be attempting (probably just the once) to get up and call at 2am my time later this week. Failing that, I will send yet another letter, spelling out how the funds should be allocated and hope it gets acted upon before the April 2025 deadline,