Shortfall in National Insurance Contributions

George_Mainwaring

I have some shortfalls in my NI contributions and wanted to top them up up. I know it's near the end of the tax year, but I just phoned up HMRC to ask how much I need to pay (and ask how to specify which years you're paying online) and was told their computer systems are being upgraded so they can't access my details and help me.

Surely it's absurd to do take such vital computer data offline at the end of a tax year, when many people will be making last-minute payments?

I've basically lost a tax year in my NI contributions (2006/7, I think) because their systems won't be up again until the 9th April. I've also lost the opportunity to pay this year's NI contributions at the normal rate. Paying them after the 9th will result in a higher amount.

I can't pay what I want to despite being within their own deadlines because their hotline can't tell me what I need to pay.

Is there anything that can be done? If I complain they'll just dodge the issue saying they're sorry but were upgrading their computers at the time. The fact is, if I'm within the deadline, HMRC should have a responsibility to be able to help me. If they started the upgrade at the start of the tax year, it'd be less likely to cause problems.

lecexpert

Hi. We purchased 4 Extra years contributions for my wife a few years ago, to bring her up to the then 30 years required for a Full Pension. The other years were made up of contributing years and Looking after children allowance. She is currently aged 57 (58 in October), so will not get a pension until she is 66 in 9 years time. However the change to the New Basic Pension now requires 35Years for a Full pension ? My question is does this mean she will now be 5 years short again ? even though we made up the difference to 30 years a few year ago ? If so, it would appear that the ladder has been pulled up. Does anyone know the answer to this ?

molerat

Yes, 5 years short but the good news is she will get the higher of (30/30 of) £107.45 or 30/35 of £144 which is £123.42 so although she will lose out on the new "full" pension she should get more than the current one. A "year" will be worth £4.27 under the new rules as opposed to £3.58 today.

pcrosland

I noticed I had 4 years missing on mine. But you only need 10 years right? so I don't see the point in paying for them. If you on a low income does that count too? or do you need to earn a certain amount.

xkpa

Hi there. I am really confused about what I need to pay to HMRC as NI contributions, so I hope some fellow member will help me.

Back in 2008 I was working in the UK for 6 months from the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS). Last month I send a request to HMRC to send me my National Insurance Statement. Few days ago I received it stating "Our records show that you currently have 3 qualifying years up to 5 April 2012". This is the statement:

NI Contributions start date: 5 April 2008
Tax year 08/09, Amount needed £689.00, Payment at this rate by 05/04/2019
Tax year 09/10, Amount needed £689.00, Payment at this rate by 05/04/2019
Tax year 10/11, Amount needed £626.00, Payment at this rate by 05/04/2019

From my calculations those are Class 3 NI contributions. I didn't work in the last years, is it possible to top up my NICs with Class 2 payments, instead of Class 3?

I registered as self-employed last year. Also currently I am resident of my home country (Bulgaria) and I have been in the UK about an year and I really don't know if those NICs will count as credits for my full basic state pension, because of the 3 years rule to be resident of the UK.

So should I ever bother paying those NICs if I wasn't in the UK for 3 years? Thank you in advance.