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Voluntary Class 3 NI Contributions – How to Pay

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  • lisboa84
    lisboa84 Posts: 51 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    My wife paid voluntary Class 3 NICs in November to fill in gaps for two years - does anybody have any idea how long it takes for the online NI record to get updated? What is worrying me is that the reference number we were given does not indicate which years she was trying to fill. The reference number was 18 digits long and exactly matches the description posted above.

    A friend of mine says it took around 13 weeks for their records to get updated.

    I would also call them to advise them how much of the payment to split between each of the two years. I read somewhere about somebody making a single online payment for 2 or 3 contribution years, and HMRC just lumping the entire payment into 1 year.
  • SeeMe
    SeeMe Posts: 343 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts
    lisboa84 wrote: »
    A friend of mine says it took around 13 weeks for their records to get updated.

    I would also call them to advise them how much of the payment to split between each of the two years. I read somewhere about somebody making a single online payment for 2 or 3 contribution years, and HMRC just lumping the entire payment into 1 year.


    Did they not state for example 2016/17--- 2017/18 for 2 years.
  • lisboa84
    lisboa84 Posts: 51 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    SeeMe wrote: »
    Did they not state for example 2016/17--- 2017/18 for 2 years.

    Well it was an online transaction, from one bank account to HMRC's bank account.

    As far as I know, you can't include a 'note' with an online bank payment. Or maybe you can and this person didn't realise that?
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,604 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Home Insurance Hacker!
    Should have been enough room in the reference for the NINo and year?
  • OldBeanz
    OldBeanz Posts: 1,436 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My payment had "2016/2017 Ni Cntrb" in the "Your comments" and the 18 digit code in "Payment reference" field.
    Checking my diary I paid on 26/4 and was advised to check three weeks later, finding my record had been updated. Not sure whether the time of year affects the length of time they take to do the update but you would have to take 3 weeks off for seasonal disturbance.
  • lisboa84
    lisboa84 Posts: 51 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    OldBeanz wrote: »
    My payment had "2016/2017 Ni Cntrb" in the "Your comments" and the 18 digit code in "Payment reference" field.
    Checking my diary I paid on 26/4 and was advised to check three weeks later, finding my record had been updated. Not sure whether the time of year affects the length of time they take to do the update but you would have to take 3 weeks off for seasonal disturbance.

    Only three weeks? That's reassuring.

    I have about 12 contribution years which I can 'buy' to fill in gaps in my record.

    I don't have an 18 digit reference number to cover all the years together, I was just going to use my NINo as the reference.
    I'm just wondering whether to make 12 separate payments with a note in each payment of which year to purchase, or whether to make one lump sum payment and call them a few days later to advise how to split and allocate funds.
  • Tom99
    Tom99 Posts: 5,371 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary
    lisboa84 wrote: »
    Only three weeks? That's reassuring.
    I have about 12 contribution years which I can 'buy' to fill in gaps in my record.
    I don't have an 18 digit reference number to cover all the years together, I was just going to use my NINo as the reference.
    I'm just wondering whether to make 12 separate payments with a note in each payment of which year to purchase, or whether to make one lump sum payment and call them a few days later to advise how to split and allocate funds.
    Why not just send a letter with a cheque?
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 34,600 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Tom99 wrote: »
    Why not just send a letter with a cheque?
    That is what I have just done for 8 years, covering letter stating amount for each year and total = cheque value. No risk of any confusion, the old fashioned methods often are easiest.
  • lisboa84
    lisboa84 Posts: 51 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    Tom99 wrote: »
    Why not just send a letter with a cheque?


    I don't have a chequebook unfortunately!
    molerat wrote: »
    That is what I have just done for 8 years, covering letter stating amount for each year and total = cheque value. No risk of any confusion, the old fashioned methods often are easiest.


    How long did it take before your government gateway account was updated?
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 34,600 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    lisboa84 wrote: »
    How long did it take before your government gateway account was updated?
    As it only went in the post today ........... ;)
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