Blackheath58

I agree with Etteloc that I'm not happy about paying without speaking to an advisor to get my 18 digit number for this year. I had one for last year but I don't feel happy using it again given the information on this forum. Is the only safe option to wait to speak to an advisor to get the number? Could we have some reassurance that this will be easier after 5 April?

Hello HMRC Admin 32 - thanks in advance for your reply and feeling sympathetic to anyone having to administer all of this :( I had the same query as Ross H. So to be clear - the answer is that you can use the 18 digit reference you were previously given to pay your contributions now. But you would then have to call the NI team (on the number which currently cuts you off after you have spent ages giving information to a computer) to get the payment allocated to the relevant year(s)? Or send the money and then write a letter hoping that everything will be joined up enough to put your money and the instructions given in your letter together? Or wait until you might be able to talk to someone hopefully after 5 April? Is this last option the safest one?