Paid Voluntary NI contributions - How long is updating of the online NI records taking?

Hi Bambi1,

The team  dealing with Specified Adult childcare credits are currently working on work received in September 2022.

If this isn’t dealt with by the date you retire, then any change to your pension will be backdated.

Thank you. 

Hi, I am living abroad and have already reached my state pension age, however I have not yet claimed my UK state pension. I have checked my NI contributions and have gaps. I have also determined that I am eligible to pay voluntary class 3 contributions and have determined how much to pay, i.e. each year that is not full explains that I can make up the shortfall for that specific year by paying a voluntary contribution of £££s and by a certain date. I have added all up the shortfalls, for the relevant years I wish to pay voluntary contributions, to determine how much to pay. I intend to make an overseas payment via an online bank transfer from a UK account. Referring to https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/make-an-online-or-telephone-bank-transfer for an Overseas Payment can you confirm that I can use the following for my reference number when making an online bank transfer. 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. Many thanks.

Hi LWNZ,

The pre 16/17 tax years will be manually added to your NI record by our Individual Caseworkers, as you are close to claiming your State Pension, (if you haven’t already done this).  

Normal time scales for allocations of payments to your NI record is 6 weeks.

You can contact The NI Helpline on 0300 200 3500 to have your payment allocated.

 We are aware that call volumes at present are higher than normal.  

Thank you. 
 

Hi smarsh Marsh,

Thank you for your enquiry.

It can take up to 8 weeks for your payment to be reflected on your  National Insurance account.

If you contacted HMRC for your 18 digit reference number to make the payment, we will already be aware where the payments need to allocated to.

Thank you. 

 

Hi, once voluntary class 3 contributions have been made to top up an existing state pension, and they are showing in my NI record, how long does it take to update the actual pension and for payments at the new rate to start? Also, what date is the increase applied from? i.e.; the date my pension started, the date I made the payment, or the date the record was updated? Thanks

Hi JerryG,

Thank you for your query.

I can confirm that your reference number to make a payment would be your National Insurance number followed by IC, then the first 7 characters of your surname and initial.

However, you must speak to the International Pension centre on +44 (0) 191 2187777 before making any payments to HMRC.

The International Pension centre will be able to advise you if paying voluntary National Insurance contributions for certain tax years will increase your pension or not.

They will issue a letter to you advising what gaps you have, what you can pay, how much it will be and how to pay.

It is important that you obtain this information from them as you may not be entitled to a refund if you make a payment for a particular tax year, and it does not increase your pension.

Thank you. 



 

Hello, I am going to be 66 in December. First, I made the 2022-2023 voluntary class 3 payment in September 2022. I have a received a confirmation letter that I have paid, dated November 2022. My insurance record for 2022-23 has not yet been updated. I am unable to speak to anyone on the phone. The automated voice keeps saying "goodbye" and cuts me off. I have phoned about 5 different numbers. Second. I have a total of 18 years work in EU countries, from 1986-2004. Can I add these years to my national insurance record to boost my pension? International pensions is unable to tell me anything. Thank you A very worried contributor.

I paid for existing gap in NI contributions on 21 October 2022. I was told that it may take 6 weeks for payment to be processed. Now more that 5 month passed and still the record is not updated.

Hi Midsummer57,

The date that your payment is received in HMRC is the date used for any revised amounts of state pension awarded. 

Thank you.

Hello When will my national insurance record show the details for 22/23 tax year?

We paid voluntary class 3 contributions for 2021/22 on 03/11/22 by a cheque which was banked on 29/11/22. When can we expect the NI record to be updated? Retirement is in 2024 so we need to pay class 3 contributions for 2022/23 as soon as we can to avoid pension underpayments. When will the NI record show the amount required to pay for 2022/23?

Hi I managed to get through on the phone and pay £79 to complete a gap in my pension for year 13/14. The guy gave me a reference and the hmrc payment details and asked me to complete the payment via bacs through my bank putting in the long reference which I did. The next day I received a letter from HMRC titled ‘demand for national insurance contributions’ asking me to pay by cheque. I used the letter to write back to HMRC saying I’d already paid but have heard nothing. Today I have received another demand letter asking me again to pay by cheque. My record has not been updated and I can’t get through on the phone. Is anyone else receiving these demand letters? HMRC please advise.

Hi Peter Dalton.

Please allow up to 6 weeks for your account to be updated.  
Your employer submits the information at the end of the tax year.


Thank you.

Hi DebClaire13,


I am sorry that you are having difficulties calling us.  Our NI helpline number is 0300 200 3500 from the UK and +44300 2003500 from abroad.  
Currently we are taking calls from 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday.
The period you asked about making payments for 1986 to 2004 are outside the time limit and you cannot pay voluntarily for this period.  
However, depending on the countries involved and whether you paid into that countries social security scheme these years may be taken into account when the Pension Service part of the Department for Works and Pensions calculate your UK state pension entitlement.
We are currently working on payments received on 16 September 2022, if you made your payment before this date and you do not wish to contact us by telephone you can write into us at:
HMRC
PT Operations
NIC&EO
Individual Caseworker
BX9 1AN
Please provide your NI number and all payment information including the date it cleared from your bank account.  

Thank you.

Hi colinandjan Friston,

We are experiencing high volumes of payments at the moment.  
Your payment will be allocated when our caseworkers reach the date of receipt. 
Our Individual Caseworkers are working on post received on 22 September 2022. 
The full year rate for the 2022-2023 tax year is £824.20 and the rate is in place until 5 April 2025, the final deadline for that tax year is 5 April 2029 but it will not be at the rate quoted and will cost you more.
Like with all voluntary NIC payments you will still need to check with the DWP that this will increase your state pension entitlement.

Thank you.

Hi nicole3chris Richmond,

Unfortunately HMRC would need to look at your National Insurance records to be able to answer your query.
The timescales for the department who will be dealing with your letter are 30 weeks, they are currently working on post received on 15/09/2022.
You could try and contact the helpline again (0300 200 3500).
Lines are extremely busy at present, and it may be easier to get through between 8am and 8.30am.  

Thank you.


 

I am confused by some of the dates given out by HMRC 20, as on 14/2/22 they stated that receipts received on 20/9/22 were being dealt with, however on 13/4/22 it was 16/9/22 that was being dealt with. Yesterday it was the 22nd September and also 15th September to 2 separate queries. I paid 2 amounts on 4/11/22 and 14/11/22 for missing years 15/16 through to 21/22 using the reference numbers and done it instantly. I reached state pension age on 21/1/23 and my NI record still shows those years as not full therefore my pension payments are short and although I realise that I will receive the back money it doesn’t help in the present. I tried ringing the 0300 200 3500 number and after answering several questions from a robot, I was told that everyone was busy and the call was disconnected with no option to hold.

Just put the phone down to the HMRC helpline on 0300 200 3500 and must admit to still trying to recover myself after possibly the most efficient, easiest and almost pleasurable experience i have ever had with HMRC and its staff in over 40 years. Yes, it took a couple of minutes talking to the robot, but once through the staff member was not only highly courteous, but very efficient. He found and confirmed the details of the Voluntary NIC payment i had made a week ago, and allocated it to the relevant years. I will look forward to checking my online tax account and State Pension calculation in approx a weeks time after allowing a day more than he suggested would be required. I must admit i am still slightly shocked, but this time at least it is pleasantly so.

I am already receiving my state pension but I recenty paid an additional 3 years voluntary contributions to increase it. The payment has gone through from my bank but I have rceived no acknowledgement from HMRC and my online record hasn't been updated. How long are payments currently taking to register and will pension increase be backdated to date additional contributions were made? I have to say the whole process has been very time cunsuming and frustrating! Having researched it online I originally tried to contact HMRC in Frebruary and after several attempts and hours of waiting in phone queues HMRC refused to give me a code to make a payment until I had got a letter from the pension service - this took several phone calls and a 6 week wait for the letter. Then hours more waiting to get back through to HMRC! sure this whole process should be possible online or by email?

If I pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance and I do not have an HMRC payslip or a reference number... When making online bank transfer can I put as a reference National Insurance number and the period I am paying for?