Voluntary NI Contributions - 18 digit reference

RG2015

jem16 said:

RG2015 said:

jem16 said:

WH_Saint said:

Last year I obtained an 18 digit reference number in order to pay voluntary NI contributions for a partial year.

I missed the the April deadline to pay the quoted amount and now I see from my Government Gateway account I need to pay around £20 more - no problem. My question is, will I need to apply for a new 18 digit payment reference for the increased amount, or can I simply use the existing reference number but increase the amount to the current required amount ?

Tried unsuccessfully to get through to HMRC - get so far before being cut off with "we are not able to help with your enquiry". Hopefully one of the good folk of MSE has experience of this. TIA.

Part of your 18 digit reference number includes the amount you are paying so technically that's all that will vary from one year to another.

I have just checked back and a couple of years ago I paid £741.00 but used the previous year's code which had 73320 as digits 3 to 7.

£733.20 was the previous year's amount but the £741.00 was nevertheless still applied correctly to NI record.

It was previously suggested that using the same reference number would suffice although I never actually tried it. 

I checked back on my notes, and I did speak to HMRC and was told the 18 digit reference would remain the same as the previous year.

I would not have done this unilaterally, although neither would I have merely changed digits 3 to 7 without checking with them.

WH_Saint

Thanks to you both for your feedback. Really frustrating that you want to pay money to the HMRC and you cannot get through to speak to them to confirm the best way.

RG2015

WH_Saint said:

Thanks to you both for your feedback. Really frustrating that you want to pay money to the HMRC and you cannot get through to speak to them to confirm the best way.

Some people have reported that phoning HMRC at 8:00 am can avoid lengthy waiting times. I have been on hold for up to 45 minutes but phoning at 8:00 am can be much quicker.

By phoning at 8:00 am, I sometimes get through in less than 5 minutes and sometimes it will be 10 minutes but rarely more than 15 minutes.

WH_Saint

RG2015 said:

WH_Saint said:

Thanks to you both for your feedback. Really frustrating that you want to pay money to the HMRC and you cannot get through to speak to them to confirm the best way.

Some people have reported that phoning HMRC at 8:00 am can avoid lengthy waiting times. I have been on hold for up to 45 minutes but phoning at 8:00 am can be much quicker.

By phoning at 8:00 am, I sometimes get through in less than 5 minutes and sometimes it will be 10 minutes but rarely more than 15 minutes.

TBH I wouldn't mind being on hold for 45 minutes if they then answered and resolved the issue. It's the frustration of entering all your details and being summarily cut off with "we cannot help you with your request today - goodbye". 

I will take the suggestion of trying early in the day - thanks for that tip.

WH_Saint

To update on this. I spoke to HMRC this morning, taking the advice on here that towards the end of the week and phoning at 08:00 is the best time, and I got through immediately.

As I now have a 2nd year of contributions they said a new reference would be needed. They confirmed I should make one payment for the total rather than two separate payments. The lady said that she would put on my record which two years I was looking to pay so that the Payment Team would match them correctly as there is no way on the bank transfer that you can say which years you are looking to pay.

As per one of the earlier replies my new reference number uses 9 as digits 3 through to 7.

I was told that for future years I would need to phone again for a new 18 digit reference number.

I hope this update helps others who had similar questions to myself.

Silvertabby

In my case, I bought a total of 4 years, in two instalments.  These were made 6 months apart, but in the same financial year.

When I rang to ask for my second 18 digit pay reference the number I was given was the same as the first one.  I did query this, but was told that it was correct.  As indeed it was, as the credit appeared on my records less than a month later.

Possibly because I have zero pre 2016 gaps, and so it would have been clear - from the amounts I paid - which years I was paying for?

bostonerimus

Paying voluntary NI from overseas seems far simpler as the reference number required is just made up of your NI number and your name and it doesn't change from year to year.

hbgb64

Been trying all week to get through for my 18 digit NI reference number to top up my contributions. On hold over an hour or call cancelled or told to call back. There must be an easier way to get this number? Apparently NI number not enough. Any advice please??

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Deleted_User said:

Been trying all week to get through for my 18 digit NI reference number to top up my contributions. On hold over an hour or call cancelled or told to call back. There must be an easier way to get this number? Apparently NI number not enough. Any advice please??

NI number is enough per gov.uk.

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/by-post

RG2015

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

hbgb64 said:

Been trying all week to get through for my 18 digit NI reference number to top up my contributions. On hold over an hour or call cancelled or told to call back. There must be an easier way to get this number? Apparently NI number not enough. Any advice please??

NI number is enough per gov.uk.

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/by-post

This is very good to know but they only mention payment by cheque. Would it also be enough when making an online payment?