18 Digit Reference for payments

I am UK resident. I have not paid any NI for 2023/24. I want to make a voluntary Class 2 NI contribution for that year of £175.40 (ie, £3.45/week). But I am not being offered the option to pay it online. My NI record for that year says "Year is not full" and "We are checking this year to see if it counts towards your pension. We’ll update your record when this is finished, you do not need to do anything." As I say, I know that I have not made any NI payment for 2023/24. How can I pay £175.40 for 2023/24 (bank account details etc) and what 18-digit reference should I use?

Hi,
It's possible that your 18-digit reference number has changed. This could be due to the amount you need to pay or if you qualify for a different Voluntary class rate. We also need to know if you plan to make a payment. Please do so by either the following:
You can call us at 0300 200 3500, and we will set up instruction on your account for receiving payment, as well as confirm or update your 18-digit reference number and any changes to our payment options.
Alternatively, you might be able to make a payment through your pension forecast on your Personal Tax Account via the Government Gateway.
You can also write in to request payment details. The address is:
PT Operations North East England
HM Revenue & Customs
BX9 1AN
If writing in to us, you will need to include your full name, address, contact number and National Insurance number. 
Please remember that not informing us about a payment or using an incorrect reference number could delay your payment allocation or cause your payment to go missing.
Hope this helps.
Thank you.

Hi KATARZYNA DOBROS,
Sorry you’re finding it hard to get through to us. It’s important we receive notification of a payment and that you receive an 18 digit reference number before submitting a payment.
We recommend you also contact the Future Pension centre on 0800 731 0175 to see if making payments will benefit your pension.
If you can not gain payment options from your pension forecast, you need to contact us to ensure you can make a payment. 
You can then contact us for payment details on 0300 200 3500.
You can use the web chat function through HMRC to obtain a 18 digit reference number. 
You can also write in to request payment details. The address is:
PT Operations North East England
HM Revenue & Customs
BX9 1AN
Thank you.
 

I have gaps in my NICs for 2015-2017. In this period I was non-employed.I would like to pay the voluntary contribution for class 3. I have calculated how much I need to pay. I have tried to speak to HMRC to request the 18 digit reference number but they are very busy. Can I write the reference number as NI+IC and my surname? Which account should I pay by bank transfer to? Thank you.

Hi cp61xmpz,
Voluntary contributions will not always increase your State Pension
You can view your State Pension Forecast online by using the 'Check Your State Pension Forecast this will show:
If there are any gaps you can pay in your National Insurance an estimate of how much you could pay.
You may be able to make payment online using this service
To access the service please see here:
Check your State Pension forecast
Please follow the instructions on the site Check your State Pension forecast- GOV.UK
If you are unable to pay online, you will need to call our helpline for payment details here:
National Insurance: general enquiries
Thank you. 

Hi I live abroad and spoke to HMRC on the phone who told me yes I should pay 4 years class 3 NI at least to make up the mininum amount pension. I completed the CF83 submission, was given how to format my ref number (my NI + IC + surname + first letter of name if less than 18 digits) so all OK. Was also given the bank account details to pay. My question is how do I speicify the 4 years that I want to pay for, as I only need to pay a small amount for those 4 years, versus the rest which are closer to 800 GBP... so if I just transfer a value totalling those 4 years, how will HMRC know which years I want to pay for. I cant pay online as this option is not available as others have mentioned, so bank transfer with ref number (without a way of informing speicifc years) looks like the only way.

Hi CLeo,
You must first speak to DWP (Future Pension Centre) before making any voluntary National insurance payments to HMRC.
If you are unable to get through on their helpline then you can request an interest in paying by completing the call back request form.
When you have had confirmation from the DWP of which years and how much you need to pay and that the payment will benefit your State Pension, then you can contact HMRC.
To be able to make a voluntary class 3 payments from a UK bank account you must use an 18 digit reference number.
We are experiencing a high volume of calls at the current time but we are taking measures to reduce the wait times.
The quietest time to call is the first and last hour the phone lines are open so between 8-9 am and 5-6 pm.  
If you are unable to get through on the helpline to get your 18 digit reference number then you can contact us via webchat, please find the link below:
Contact HMRC
Alternatively, you could pay via cheque and if you do not have an 18 digit reference you can write you National Insurance number on the back of the cheque. 
You must make the cheque payable to 'HM Revenue and Customs only' and along with the cheque send in a cover letter with the following information:
•              your name
•              your address
•              your phone number
•              your National Insurance Number
•              what the payment is for - Class 3 National Insurance
•              the period you are paying for
•              a request for a receipt - if you want confirmation of the payment
Thank you
 

Dear HMRC, I am resident in the UK now, but have worked overseas. I requested and received a letter detailing my NI contribution shortfall since 2006. The shortfall is a combination of missed class2 and class 3 payments. I did not get an 18 digit reference number to make payment. As I was unable to get through to the HMRC helplines, I read on this forum, that I could pay the class 2 shortfall using a reference of (NI number)+IC+Initials. So I paid my class 2 shortfall separately using this reference. I managed to get through to the NI Class 3 helpline and got an 18 digit reference number for my class 3 shortfalls and have paid for this separately via online banking. My question is this: Would it be an issue that I have paid for my class2 and class3 shortfalls separately, using two different reference codes? If so, what is the remedial action I should take. Thank you for your time.

I obtained my 18-digit reference number over a year ago, but have yet to use it because the deadline was extended. If nothing has changed about the contributions I wish to purchase, is the number still valid please? Thanks,

Hi,
We would advise you to write into us to specify which tax years you would like your payment allocated to.
Please find our address below:
PT Operations North East England
HMRC
BX9 1AN
Please provide us with the following information:
•    your name
•    your address
•    your phone number
•    your National Insurance Number
•    what the payment is for 
•    the period/s you are paying for
•    request for a receipt - if this is required
Thank you
 

Hi John Lee,
If you have already submitted your CF83 and received a letter in response, INSL33a, detailing the tax years you can pay and a which rate, you firstly should have followed the letters instruction to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to see if making payments would benefit you. 
Once they had confirmed if you should make payments or not, you should have then followed the further instruction on your INSL33a document on how to make payment. 
As your making payment for a period abroad you can only make a payment through bank transfer or by cheque. Below are the links you need to follow to gain the details to make these payments. 
Pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions if you do not pay through Self Assessment
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance
For both links, you need to select either ‘make an online or telephone bank transfer’ or ‘send a cheque through the post’
These options confirm the bank details and reference numbers you need to use to make a payment. 
If you have used any other payment details, you need to contact national insurance to ensure your payment has been received correctly. 
National Insurance: general enquiries
You can use the webchat function ‘ask HMRC online’ 
You can also write in to
PT Operations North East England
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1AN
When submitting your correspondence, kindly provide your National Insurance Number, full name, current address, a contact telephone number, and a brief explanation of the purpose of your letter. Additionally, please remember to sign and date the document, even if it is printed.
Thank you.
 

Hi Tina,
It is possible that your 18 digit reference number has changed. This could be due to the amount you need to pay or if you qualify for a different Voluntary class rate. We also need to know if you plan to make a payment. Please contact our National Insurance team for advice. 
National Insurance: general enquiries
You can use the webchat function ‘ask HMRC online’  
You can also write to:
PT Operations North East England,
HM Revenue and Customs,
BX9 1AN,
When submitting your correspondence, please include your National Insurance Number, full name, current address, a contact telephone number, and a brief explanation of the purpose of your letter. Additionally, please remember to sign and date the document, even if it is printed.
We will set up instruction on your account for receiving payment, as well as confirm or update your 18 digit reference number and any changes to our payment options.
Alternatively, you might be able to make a payment through your pension forecast on your personal tax account via the Government Gateway.
Please remember that not informing us about a payment or using an incorrect reference number could delay your payment allocation or cause your payment to go missing.
Thank you.

 

Hi, I am happy that I just received a letter from HMRC letting me know the voluntary NICs shortfall I need to pay for each year (I lived /am living abroad) to make it a qualifying year.
There is a table with years/ weeks/ weekly rate/ amount. It shows a mix of Class 2 and Class 3 NICs shortfall rates.
I am ready to make online transfer.
My question is whether i should do payment in one go (Class 2 or Class 3) or in two parts (Class 3 and then Class 3)?
The letter says i can use one of the following 'pay voluntary class 3 national insurance' or 'pay class 2 national insurance'.
Does it really matter if i pay the total amount via Class 2 or Class 3?
From the table, (not explicit in this matter) I can differentiate between Class 2 and Class 3 by looking at the 'weekly rate of contribution'. The lower one (3.15 GBP per week) is the Class 2 and the higher one (15.85 GBP per week) is the Class 3.
My plan is to add up is class and pay separately in two steps.
I would be grateful if you could let me know if this is the correct way to do the payment(s)?
Much appreciate your help.

Hi Eleanorgua,
Sorry that you are finding it hard to contact HMRC, they are experiencing a high number of calls at present. 
Call national Insurance on 0300 200 3500 from the UK or +44 191 203 7010 if calling from abroad.
You can use the webchat function ‘ask HMRC online’  Ask HMRC online
You can also write in to:
PT Operations North East England
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1AN
When submitting your correspondence, kindly provide your National Insurance Number, full name, current address, a contact telephone number, and a brief
explanation of the purpose of your letter.
Additionally, please remember to sign and date the document, even if it is printed.
You can request a call back to discuss payment of voluntary NICs for tax years from 2006 by completing and submitting an online form to register your interest.
This will be sent to DWP and you will be contacted within 8 weeks.
Request a call back to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions
Thank you.

 

Hi HA2025
Full payment can be made and guidance is available at:
Pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions if you do not pay through Self Assessment: Make an online or telephone bank transfer
Please ensure you use the 18 digit reference number so that payments can be allocated accordingly.
We will then allocate the total payment to the years outstanding.
You can then check the allocation of the national insurance payment and full years through the following if you have set up either: 
• your personal tax account 
• the official HMRC app
 Alternatively you can Check your National Insurance record through the links available
Thank you
 

Hi Steffan,
If the payment is for the same tax years the 18 digit reference number that was provided can still be used.
Thank you.