Voluntary NIC - is 2020-21 a 53 week year?

Tassie_Devil

I paid voluntary NICs in 2019-20 by cheque, sent in 52 weeks' worth, only to find it was a 53 week year so to get a complete year I had to pay another week's NIC.

I suspect the current year is also-does anyone know for sure? (I would call them but I understand it might not be possible to get an answer at present).

molerat

Class 2 or 3 ?  You only need 52 weeks for SP entitlement irrespective of how many PAYE weeks there are in a year.

For class 2 https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/national-insurance-manual/nim23550

In years which consist of 53 contribution weeks, the payment request issued in April following the end of the contribution year for which the person is entitled to pay Class 2 NICs can cover up to 27 weeks. If a person is not liable to pay Class 1 or Class 2 NICs in respect of that contribution year and 52 weeks of Class 2 NICs are needed to make the year a qualifying year for Basic State Pension contributory benefit purposes, then the person entitled to pay only need pay for 52 weeks, despite the fact that the contribution year consists of 53 contribution weeks.

Tassie_Devil

Class 2, so £3.05/week this year.

Reading the link that you sent, that only applies if you receive a six-monthly pay request: as I'm abroad, I don't get those, so I have to pay the full number of weeks. Last year happened to be a 53-week year so I had to pay separately for the 53rd week, having already sent a cheque for what I'd assumed was a full year.

I'm just going to pay 52 weeks again and doubtless I'll get another request for the extra week if I get it wrong.