voluntary NI contributions

I want to pay class 3 voluntary contributions to top up my pension as I was contracted out and need to pay 7 years before I reach retirement age. I am not working or claiming benefits. When I try to pay on government gateway it asks me for an 18 digit number which I do not have. It says it will be on my bill, but I don't have a bill? how do I get this number?

[Display name amended - Admin]

Same problem here. What his this ref number they keep referring to?

May I jump on this thread to ask if this 18 digits number is always the same, regardless of which gaps one is try to fill? To get it on the phone is impossible at the moment as lines are extremely busy. Thanks

I'm the same on hold now for over an hour please stop telling me the information I need is on line when it obviously isn't and you have the nerve to ask me to fill in a questionnaire regarding this appalling service 😅 I might get cut off now

Trying to get through to confirm that CF83 has been processed for myslef and my husband to pay Voluntary NI contributions and fill gaps, we received the penion forecast and sent off the CF83 last November 2022 - telephones - 1hr 14 mins yesterday 01355359022 and 1hr 14mins today 01912037010 and each time I have been cut off. very poor service. any tips / can someone help?

I eventually got through to the phone number and was given the number. I was told that phoning up is the only way to get the number

Still waiting on the telephone to get the 18 digit National Insurance reference number . Why can't it be generated online. This is ridiculous and frustrating. It doesn't need to be so inefficient. People are trying to pay the government some money voluntarily but they don't make it easy.

Waited for 1 hour 13 minutes. Reading the thread above, this seems to be the magic time that our government keeps us waiting for us to give them money. A nice person, who through no fault of their own struggled to speak English, took ages making sure that I understood that my payment might not actually improve my pension and I should get a pensions forecast before proceeding. They then spent the next 5 minutes slowly reading out HMRC bank account details (all of which are available online) before reading out my 18 digit number. Went to the website and 30 seconds later it was paid! Come on HMRC, please can you do better than this.

Hi jonellisevans,

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 future pension centre on 0800 731 0175
If you are over pension age you should contact the pension service on 0800 731 7898
DWP phone lines are open between 8am and 6pm
Once you have received this information, 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

Thank you.


 

Since January I have tried to get an 18 digit class 3 ni number without success. I have spent up to 4 hours at a time trying to get this number but as yet cannot get a reply on zny of the numbers. I have my forecast. Have had letter from hmrc saying what I could pay but no bill despite asking for one by e.mail. It is crazy that you can't get this on-line. What is the magic number for 1 hrs 13 minutes....I'll give it a try.

I need a Class 3 National Insurance reference number to get past the "pay now" window online. I need to make up at least 4 years of contributions to be paid by April this year. (I've done all the forecasts, checks etc. ) . I don't have a bill, it's not on a P60. Why can't I "pay now" online using just my National Insurance Number.? This number is used by my account in Gov portal.

.... and I've waited ages on several calls to HMRC - last one being cut off by HMRC after 58 mins......!!

The 18 digit reference numbers is extremely long and my hearing is not very good. Is it possible to email me the 18 digit reference number? I am surprised that this is not standard practice because long reference numbers can easily be misheard.

Hi webbdef23,

I am sorry you have been unable to speak to an advisor at HMRC, to obtain an 18 digit reference number. I can confirm that the 18 digit reference number differs and is not always the same as a number you may have previously been given.

Please see the following important information you need to know before making any payments of Voluntary National Insurance contributions to HMRC.

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 future pension centre on 0800 731 0175

If you are over pension age you should contact the pension service on 0800 731 7898

DWP phone lines are open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday

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
The contact number for HMRC is 0300 2003500 (lines are open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday)

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.  https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/by-post The address to write to is:
HM Revenue and Customs
National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office
BX9 1AN

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.



 

I've made one payment by post a week ago asking for receipt (text, email, letter) - No response yet. Really worried that the cheque (and subsequent cheques) will be lost or destroyed. Why can't I (and all the others trying to get through before the April deadline) just pay online using our National Insurance Number? Paying self-assessment tax online is not this problematic. It's the 21st CEntury!!

on 7th February 2023 I sent a cheque for nearly £5,000, with a covering letter, to top up my Class 3 voluntary contributions. The cheque hasn't been presented yet. How long before I start to worry. Phoning is a waste of time as you are just added to an extremely long waiting list.

To Lorraine Hall It will probably be a while till HMRC process your CF83 form I'm afraid. My son's form has been with them since 14th September and has still not been processed. Perhaps someone from HMRC Admin can let us know where they are up to with regards sorting post please? My son is in Canada.

Hello I made a class 3 voluntary national insurance payment of £570.60 on the 11th of January 2023 online using the 18 digit number I got from HMRC by phone. all went through ok and I got an email confirmation the payment hade bee made. However it is not yet showing on my National Insurance records, as I have been checking on my GOV account. can anyone advise me when my National Insurance records will be updated? it is for the year 2019-2020. Many Thanks

Well I kept trying and after a couple of failed attempts up to 3 hours I got got through today in guess what...yes 1 hrs 13ins!!! The Gentleman was helpfull and efficient and have now been able to top up my pension although my take 6 weeks to apply funds. The 18 digit number is basically generated by them as a reference or invoice number for ease if reconciliation and applying to your fund. I'm sure many just give up and have to admit was getting close. Good luck folks.

Hi Lorraine Hall,

We are sorry you have been unable to speak to an advisor at HMRC. Our lines are extremely busy at present. We can confirm that the current timescale for processing CF83 applications is 28 weeks. Staff are currently processing applications received on 10 August 2022, therefore your application should be in the queue waiting to be processed. 

We can confirm that the date your application is received by HMRC will be the date we accept your request.

Thank you.