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Reclaiming national insurance

I have recently left the UK after living there for less than two years. The national insurance I paid during that time would be quite substantial. As I am not returning I want to reclaim it and have it transfered to my Australian pension fund.

The tax office website seems to be vague on this, so how can I go about having this money reclaimed/transfered?

Comments

  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As I understand it the NI is non refundable, a quick look in the HMRC National Insurance Tecnical manual does not show any mechanism for refunding to people in the UK for less than 2 years.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • EdInvestor
    EdInvestor Posts: 15,749 Forumite
    You may however be able to count it as credits towards your eventual Australian state pension. Putting together state pensions out of credits in different countries is becoming increasingly common these days as so many people are now working overseas.
    Trying to keep it simple...;)
  • There is an 'opt up' clause but for obvious reasons they don't want people to understand how it works. As a non-UK citizen if I live in the UK for less than 11 years I am not entitled to a state pension, therefore my national insurance payments were pointless. I already know they don't make cash rebates but do have a way for transferring. I just need to know how that works.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Reciprocal agreemenst with Australia for the transfer pension contributions ceased in 2001, the pension service website asks that you contact International Pension Centre (Pension Service -tyneview Park) for advice and informtion , they shoudl be able to advise accordingly.
    http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/contactus/contact-pod-form.asp
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
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