Keith

Hi Matt. Your situation sounds exactly like mine...just 2 months later (in terms of when payment was made). I felt reassured when I called last time and was given assurances about the payment having been received and being assigned to my NI record (if not the actual contribution record by year). I also thought the explanation as to why my yearly amounts were not yet allocated...namely that they're focusing on those who are closer to retirement (see Noel's comments above). As I have 6+ years to go, I'm really not concerned about the allocation not showing up (based on the verbal reassurances received on the phone). I did ask about paying the current 2024-25 NI contribution, but was told to wait until the other years (as paid by my single payment last June) show up in my record. That seems like a good idea given the confusion that seems to exist within the department/process. I have also noted that all online references to how much you'd have to pay for prior years are listed at the default higher Class 1 rate (not the actual rate we owe which is listed in the letter from HMRC that outlines the Voluntary NICs Shortfall - ideally at the lower Class 3 rates). All that said...I'm all for others calling the HMRC and getting the latest updates and guidance!

Noel: If you see this...that's great news to hear that your records were updated. Are you close to retirement and thus likely moved closer to the top of the pile? I ask this as a friend in the same situation, and slightly longer timing than me (in terms of making a contribution before I did), hasn't been updated yet...so he called this week and this is what he told me "I just spoke to NIC again and they said they're way behind and if you're not close to pension age its gone to the bottom of the pile! So essentially it could be months more! But as long as the money is in, its all fine and will go through"

Hello everyone. Here's my situation and what I was told (hoping it'll be useful to all with the same questions): I received a letter after my CF38 submission that advised I'm eligible to pay Class 2 for 2006 onwards. In June 2024, I paid the full amount from a UK bank account I'd earlier opened for this purpose (I live in Canada). In October I called and was told the money had definitely been received, but that it would take up to 32 weeks (which would be Feb 2025). I called again last week and the agent confirmed that the money was received and was definitely linked/recorded in my NI record...then she explained that Class 2 overseas payments need to be manually entered year-for-year to have the records properly updated, and that because there was a very small team working at this (whilst being inundated with deposits as the April 5th deadline approaches) it was taking a very long time to complete. She reassured me that irrespective of whenever that final processing is completed, my payment ahead of April 5th, 2025 guarantees it'll be applied to my records and will form part of my pension calculations. Basically she was saying that if the final accounting isn't completed until after April 5th it won't matter (and I'm not to worry about it). If your pension is due soon, then I recommend calling them and telling them of the urgency...but if its a farther away, I'd recommend chilling out about it. I hope this helps!

Dear HRRC: The writer (Mike Allan) is asking how long it takes until a voluntary payment of NI contributions takes to appear in the NI online record. Can you please reply with the typical/average wait time for this to be reflected in our NI records - such that we know when we might feel it necessary to contact the number you’ve provided (ie if the wait exceeds this average time)? Thank you!

Alan Jones: Class 2 NI is not just for self employed people overseas...it is also for those employed by others. Nonetheless, DrEgg is asking about the reason he was denied as it pertains to the "working immediately before leaving the UK" portion of the assessment...and he's right to ask for a definition of this as it's a very vague condition - with no information on the application form as to what it means.

Hey classwho....elsewhere in this forum its been mentioned that there's an 18 character limit. Despite Admin not answering your question I think you'd be wise to only use the 18 characters requested, and not go beyond.

Dear HMRC: please note that your example is actually 17 digits. Can you confirm that the format is for UP TO 18 Digits (which is always going to be less than 18 Digits if your surname is 5 letters or less). Thanks!

Hi Moray...the actual "Keith" here lol. I was disappointed to see that HMRC had put my name on that March 5th reply as it had nothing to do with my last comment in this thread (namely that the link they'd provided in their Feb 19th reply to Robert Gray doesn't take you to where they say it is going to). Unfortunately this forum is hit and miss with respect to the information supplied by HMRC...sometimes it is highly useful and accurate...and sometimes it is nonsense and completely unhelpful. Good luck with your attempts to get the answers to your very important questions...hopefully it gets resolved soon.

Just curious...has the writer of this question sent in their CF38 form and been advised that they are eligible to buy back years 2006 - 2023? That's the required process as I understand it...and the response from HRMC should have been confirming what years are eligible to purchase back AND how to make that payment from abroad.

That link takes you to "How to get your National Insurance Number in Writing" not how to pay Class 2 NI