payment of voluntary class 2 NIC contributions from abroad

Dear Sir, I have received a letter from HMRC accepting my application to pay voluntary class 2 NIC contributions (in response to my CF83 form). The letter includes a table with the payment needed for each year to make it a qualifying year. Since I am abroad I need to make an online transfer. My question is: do I need to make separate transfers for each tax year? or, am I supposed to make a single online transfer with the whole amount of all the years included in the table, all together? Many thanks

Hi,

You may pay whatever tax years that you wish to make either in a lump sum or by separate amounts. We would ask that you pay a full tax year (or multiple) with each payment that you make. You should check with Future Pensions before making payment to ensure that it is worthwhile to do so – details about this will be included with your letter.

Thank you.

Regarding payment from abroad. Last month on the HMRC website there was an option for those paying from abroad but using a UK bank account. The HMRC account for this option was: Sort code: 20-20-48 Account: 30944793 Name: HMRC NIC Receipts Reference: NI number followed by IC followed by surname and initial Today I checked https://www.gov.uk/pay-class-2-national-insurance/make-online-telephone-bank-transfer The above option is no longer listed. Please can HMRC admin advise how to make payment if you live abroad via a UK bank account?

[Personal Information Removed - HMRC Admin]

Hi,

Details of how to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions can be found on the following weblink: 

Voluntary National Insurance

As you are paying overseas voluntary contributions your 18 Digit Reference Number remains as you advised.

Thank you.

Hello, I have just paid my back dated contributions from 2006 to 2023/4. I live abroad and I would like to know how I can pay my future contributions by Direct Debit. Do I have to fill form CF83 in again? I note on your site it says ' You must apply by post to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for gaps in the current tax year and then for future payments by Direct Debit. I was sent a link to pay the contributions to your account, with my NI reference number to include my surname and initial, which was done. Do I have to apply in writing to the UK now to request a direct debit for future payments?

I sent my application form from abroad for additional voluntary class 2 contribution two months ago. I chose the option to pay via direct debit from my UK bank account. I haven't yet heard back on my letter. Please advise what should I do? Thanks

Hi,
Yes, you will need to fill in a new CF83 form and fill in the Direct debit section of the form to set up a direct debit for current and future years.
Thank you.

Hi there, that's what i tried to say in my message. I submitted form CF83 almost 10 weeks ago. Should I assume a direct debit will be requested from my bank account or there will be further correspondence with me through letter that I should expect before payment is taken?

Hi Anoop Kumar,
Sorry for the delay in you receiving a reply to your CF83 application form.
If you sent your application via post, our International Team that deal with individuals in EU countries are dealing with queries received on 30 July 2023 at the moment.
Our International Team that deal with individuals outside of the EU are dealing with queries received 4 March 2024.
Unfortunately, there will be a delay before you receive a reply.
If you completed your CF83 application form online then our EU Team are dealing with queries received 11 August 2024 and our Team for non-EU countries are dealing with queries received on 16 June 2024.
Thank you. 

 

Hi Annop Kumar,
Sorry for the delay in processing your CF83 application form.
When our International Teams have processed your application they will send you a letter to confirm and what happens next.
Unfortunately, there is a delay in processing CF83s.
If you are in an EU country and have sent your CF83 online then it should have been processed by now so you may wish to call our National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500 (from the UK) or + 44 191 203 7010 (from overseas).
If you posted your CF83 then they are working on queries received July 2023 at the moment.
If you are in a country outside of the EU and sent your CF83 online then they are working on queries received in June 2024 and if you send it by post, they are working on queries received in March 2024.
Thank you. 

 

Dear HRMC, I paid for my back dated NIC contributions from abroad to HMRC NIC Receipts but using the sort code (08 32 20) and account number (12001004), instead of the required IBAN (GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93). In the reference field I used my National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’ and my surname (instead of the required 18-digit reference number). I realise now that this is incorrect and I clearly made a mistake. Does it mean that my payment will not be recognized and lost? Please advise what I should do now.

Hello. I am like the original poster in that I am paying voluntary Class 2 contributions from abroad. But I am also paying voluntary Class 3 contributions from abroad. This covers the whole period from 2006 to 2024 (I had three years in the UK in the middle, hence the combination of two different classes). I have two questions: 1. The HMRC website says that I can pay Class 2 contributions from a UK bank account: Sort code – 08 32 20 Account number – 12001004 Account name – HMRC NIC Receipts Reference number to use: Use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’, your surname then your initial. If your bank limits you to a certain number of characters, you should use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’ and as much of your surname as possible. So I do not need an 18-digit number, correct? I just want to check, as I am very pedantic over money matters. Is all the above good and well? 2. Class 3: this is where it gets harder. When you go to the link I was given in my letter (sent to me abroad): https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/pay-online-using-bank-account I am told: "You’ll need: your online banking details the 18-digit reference number on your HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) payment request". When I press on the link to go and pay, it immediately asks "What is your Class 3 National Insurance reference number? This is 18 digits and begins with 60..." So do I need to get an 18-digit number specially for the "Class 3" years? I am talking here also about paying for shortfall years (specifically from 2006 to 2017).

Hi Herr Steuermann,
The details that you’ve given about payment of voluntary class 2 National Insurance contributions are correct – your ’18 Digit Reference Number’ is your National Insurance Number IC surname and initial (or as much of your surname as possible).  
For your query about paying voluntary class 3 contributions, then your ’18 Digit Reference Number’ is still the same – your National Insurance Number IC surname and initial (or as much of your surname as possible).  
However, if you are making a payment of both voluntary class 2 and voluntary class 3 contributions from overseas at the same time, then you may just send one payment – the bank details and your ’18 Digit Reference Number’ are the same.
Thank you.

Hi Antom M,
It would appear that you have sent your payment of voluntary National Insurance contributions to us as someone who lives or work overseas. If this is the case then you would have made your payment correctly.  
When you are overseas your ’18 Digit Reference Number’ is your National Insurance Number IC surname and initial (or as much of your surname as possible).  
I would ask that you wait 8 weeks for your payment to be allocated to your National Insurance account and then check your Personal Tax Account to ensure that it is allocated as you wished. If your payment is not allocated or not as you wished then please call our National Insurance Helpline and they will help you.  
It may be helpful if you had your payment details handy when you called.
Thank you.

Thank you for your reply. However, as per the HRMC guidance on this webpage - https://www.gov.uk/pay-class-2-national-insurance/make-online-telephone-bank-transfer When paying from an overseas bank account one is supposed to make the transfer using IBAN (GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93) and BIC (BARCGB22). However, while I paid from an overseas bank account (Revolut with Lithuanian IBAN) I paid to HMRC NIC Receipts using the UK account number (12001004) and sort code (08 32 20), as if I was paying from a UK bank account. I did use my National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’, my surname and the initial, though. So strictly speaking I did not follow the correct payment guidance. Please kindly confirm that this is not an issue. I did indeed paid more than 8 weeks ago (in May 2024) but the payment is still not reflected in my National Insurance Account.

I am experiencing a problem trying to make a payment. When I try to pay either my voluntary Class 3 or Class 2 contributions using "your ’18 Digit Reference Number’ is your National Insurance Number IC surname and initial (or as much of your surname as possible)", I get the following message in red: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/pay/enter-class-3-national-insurance-reference?traceId=80913927 There is a problem Enter your Class 3 National Insurance reference number in the correct format What is your Class 3 National Insurance reference number? This is 18 digits and begins with 60. For example, 603490017829614130. You’ll find it on your payment request, or you can request an 18-digit reference number from the National Insurance helpline. Enter your Class 3 National Insurance reference number in the correct format The system seems to refuse to accept an ’18 Digit Reference Number’ that is a National Insurance Number IC surname and initial. Am I doing something wrong? Am I following the wrong link? I went to the following page and clicked on the green "Pay now" button: https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/pay-online-using-bank-account

Hi,
You used the correct reference for paying from an overseas bank account so your payment should be with us, it might just take a little longer to be processed.
However please contact our helpline so we can check to make sure your payment is there and ready to be allocated to your account.
Please find our contact details below:
Number
0300 200 3500
Text Relay
18001 0300 200 3500 (Text Relay)
Overseas
+44 191 203 7010
Open
Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Web Address
National Insurance: detailed information
Thank you.
 

Hi Sumarokov Elston,
To pay your voluntary class 3 National Insurance contributions by bank transfer please use the following weblink:
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance Make an online or telephone bank transfer
Thank you.