18 Digit Reference for payments

I have received the details of the amount of volntary contributions required to cover years I've not been working in the UK and am ready to pay. I can't see any reference to an 18 digit code to use however. Where can I get it? Could I simply use my NI number, which s unique to me? Thanks, Graeme.

I have the same issue. I received a pension forecast and also a statement letting me know which shortfall years I have but no reference number. Previously I had been told to use NI number followed by IC and last name and initial but that does not work. I do see a number at the bottom of my letter but I don’t know if that’s correct and when you go to pay that’s the only thing you have to input so if it’s wrong I could lose my money.

Hi Laura Mason,
As it would appear that you are wishing to pay overseas voluntary contributions, we can confirm that the correct reference number to use is: National Insurance Number,
Followed by IC,
Then your surname and initial.
This would mean that your payment goes to our International Office to allocate to your National Insurance account.
Thank you. 

Hi Graeme,
If you have received confirmation that you are able to pay voluntary national insurance from abroad, please see the overseas payments section in the link. It applies for class 2 if you have been approved also.
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance
You can pay to either bank account depending on your payment method with your overseas reference.
Any problems please call the centre for non-residents:
Number - 0300 200 3500
Overseas - 0044 191 203 7010
Open - Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays
Thank you.

I have a similar question. I have confirmation from HMRC and Future Pensions of how many and which specific missing years of Class 2 NICs to make from overseas (I am in EU since 2003). However, I want pay from my UK bank account in GBP. I assume the same details apply: sort code - 08 32 20 account number - 12001004 account name - HMRC NIC Receipts So can I use my NI number +IC, surname and initial or do I need the 18-digit code as the reference? Thanks

Hi Martin Mayhew,
To  confirm that as you wish to pay some overseas voluntary National Insurance contributions then the 18 Digit Number that you would use for your bank transfer is your National Insurance Number, followed by IC and then your surname and initial (if possible).  
Thank you. 
 

Hello I sent a Form CF83 and received a reply re which years I could make voluntary NI payments and how much each year would cost. It did not say if they are class 2 or 3 but looking at the figures it appears there is a mixture. I would like to pay all the lower (classe 2) value years. It mentioned a link to make payments but the page told me I needed an 18 digit code which has not been provided. I tried to make one up using my NInumberCINameIntial but it was not accepted. Can I make a bank transfer ? If I make a bank transfer, how do I specify which years I wish the funds to contribute towards? Thank you

Annie G - Not CI. Right is IC. AB123456AICSURNAME

Hi Annie G,
When making a voluntary payment of National Insurance for a period when overseas,you do not pay on the GOV.UK website.
Yes you can make a bank transfer. If you are paying from a UK bank account you make the payment to:
•    sort code - 08 32 20
•    account number - 12001004
•    account name - HMRC NIC Receipts
If you are paying from an overseas bank account, you should use details:
•    account number (IBAN) - GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93
•    Bank Identifier Code (BIC) - BARCGB22  
•    account name - HMRC NIC receipts
For the reference number: 
Use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’, your surname then your initial.
If your bank limits you to a certain amount of characters, you should use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’ and as much of your surname as possible.
For example if your name is Anne Jones, you’d write the reference as QQ123456AICJONESA
Put your reference number in the reference box supplied by your bank.
If you are not sure of which years are Class 2, please contact our National Insurance Helpline and an advisor can assist you and note on our system which years you are intending to pay.
Please find out contact details below:
National Insurance: general enquiries
Thankyou


 

Hello, I'm trying to pay my Class 2 National Insurance contributions but the letter I have received contains no details of the '18 Digit Class 2 NI reference number'. However, having searched this forum I now understand that the correct format for this number is: QQ123456AICJONESA (although in this example, there are only 17 digits) In the instance where the surname is too long to permit either the complete surname being written or the inclusion of an initial, would the following format be correct: QQ123456AICJOHNSTO ? Also, it's been 7 months since the last posting on this forum, so can you please confirm that the sort code, account name, and number are still the same (as of February 2025)? If not, can you please provide the correct details? Many thanks.

Good afternoon, I need your advise and confirmation if my 18 digit reference number will be as follow My Insurance Number then IC then my surname and first letter of my name I want to pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance Contributions. I know it's just the number! Last year I got 18 reference number to pay some gaps, but I realized I need to pay a little more. Now, can I use my 18 reference number from the previous payment, or should I use this NI IC and my surname plus initial as NI IC BorkowR... I would appreciate your help as the phone line is very busy!! Kind regards Rosana Borkowska

David888 It will be QQ123456AICJONESAN, so you will take another letter from your initial name. However, it would be best if it was confirmed by an HMRC advisor! Cheers, Rosana

Hi David888,
If you are paying voluntary Class 2 NI from abroad the details are on the link provided below.
The 18-digit reference example in the link advises the name for example to be as - QQ123456AICDOUGLAS-HAMILTONJ, this is over 18 digits.
Some banks only permit 18 digits so if you are only able to add in 18 digits for your name you can just apply the first 3 letter of your surname and any initials that make up the remaining digit/s. The details you provided are ok to be 17 digits - QQ123456AICJONESA.
Pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions if you do not pay through Self Assessment.
Thank you.

Hi If my 18-digit reference number will look as follows QQ123456AICBORROSN or QQ123456AICBORKOWR My surname has 9 numbers and my name 6 Thank you!!

Hi again or is it also correct QQ123456AICBORROSA Please, if anyone can confirm it! Thank you!!

Hi RosanaB Borkowska,
If you are paying from an overseas bank account then you must pay to the following details: 

• Business Identifier Code (BIC) - BARCGB22
• account number (IBAN) - GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93
• account name - HMRC NIC Receipts

The reference number you must use if you are paying from an overseas bank account is your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’, your surname then your initial. If your bank limits you to a certain amount of characters, you should use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’ and as much of your surname as possible. For Example if your name is Anne Jones, you’d write the reference as QQ123456AICJONESA. If your name is John Douglas-Hamilton and your National Insurance number is QQ123456A, you’d write the reference as QQ123456AICDOUGLAS-HAMILTONJ

If you are paying from a UK bank account, you must use the bank details:

• sort code - 08 32 20
• account number - 12001004
• account name - HMRC NIC Receipts

You must contact us to receive a 18 digit reference number, the number possibly might be the same as the one you were given last year, however you need to tell us what period/s you are paying for.
We apologise for the current wait times on the phone lines, during this busy time of year we are receiving a high volume of calls, we are currently trying our best to reduce the long wait times, the quietest time of day for contacting the helpline is the first and last hour the lines are open, between 8-9am and 5-6pm. However if you are unable to call at these times, an alternative to contacting us via telephone is our customer webchat. Please find the link below:
Contact HMRC
Thank you.
 

Thank you very much for your response!!!

Future pension told my husband he has 3years to pay to enable full state pension but there were two amounts he could be asked to pay but to contact hmrc who said they would write to him but this was months ago. My husband is thinking of just paying the 3 years at the highest amount so he's covered but doesn't have an 18 digit code how would he pay it . We live in the UK. Reading other people's comments would it be his NI number ic then his surname then the first letter from his first name if he needs to make up to 18

Need to get an 18 digit number (I'm not overseas). Extra impossible to get through to the chat this morning now that Martin Lewis has publicised it to the whole country! Why don't HMRC use a reference that everyone can work out for themselves, such as NI number plus surname plus year, so they're not having to deal with loads of enquiries they're unable to cope with. Just saying ......

Hi there, could you tell me how my 18 digit reference number is made up if I wish to pay Class 2 NICs as a landlord in the UK? Thanks.