NI contributions

Beachfield1962

Will someone kindly clarify how many years you can buy NI contributions, I believe the limit as to how many back years you can pay has changed

GenieBoy

No body knows. I too have a couple of missed years and when I log into my tax account on the gov uk site it says I can pay them up to make them count towards state pension but there is no way to actually pay them. You would think they would put a little visa/mastercard payment link up to pay them like what other gov departments do like DVLA/Passport Office etc but no. 

Rodders53

Google .gov website for the horse's mouth info:  https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

It changes from 6th April this year to be 6 years... some currently can buy earlier years.

GenieBoy

Rodders53 said:

Google .gov website for the horse's mouth info:  https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

It changes from 6th April this year to be 6 years... some currently can buy earlier years.

But there is no option to pay.

Beachfield1962

Is there a limit as to how many years you can buy back before the new rules in April

molerat

Beachfield1962 said:

Is there a limit as to how many years you can buy back before the new rules in April

Up until April you can pay back as far as 2006-07, a total of 16 years.  From April it will revert to the normal 6 years so back to 2017-18.

The big BUT is that pre 2016 years may not add value to your pension, that one is down to your personal circumstances.

Pat38493

If you check out the Martin Lewis podcast released today he explains it all.

Up until 6th April this year you can go back in history up to 16 years.  Normally it is only 6 years.

However you need to call future pensions and discuss it with them first to find out whether buying back years will actually increase your State Pension forecast - just because the years exist to buy doesn’t mean they will increase your pension in all cases.  If you post your exact details of your figures here, there are posters on here who can at least give a steer about it.

Then once you know which years to buy, you have to call HMRC NI helpline and get a reference number for the years you want to buy back.  You can then make a bank transfer using that reference number.

Unfortunately it’s not joined up in that way that you can just click a button and pay - probably on purpose because you need to know first whether it will actually increase your pension or not.

molerat

GenieBoy said:

Rodders53 said:

Google .gov website for the horse's mouth info:  https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

It changes from 6th April this year to be 6 years... some currently can buy earlier years.

But there is no option to pay.

There is no on line option to pay, there are though several other ways to pay listed.  Just because a year is available to pay does not mean it is sensible to pay that year.

Nanucleo

Unfortunately it’s impossible to get through to the HMRC helpline.

Im 64 and haven’t worked for many years. According to my record, I have 31 qualifying years and I think I need to top that up to 35.

my problem is which years do I top up? I have some which are pre 2016 which are not complete which would only cost a few hundred pounds to make complete, or would I have to top up years where there have been no NI payments?

p00hsticks

If you have a state pension forecast and post up the details people will be able to help you with which years are of benefit.
Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Maximum amount of forecast
• Current amount up to April 2022
• Years you have available going forward until you reach State Pension Age
• Number of full years prior to April 2016
• Number of full years after April 2016
• Years which are not filled
• Whether there is a COPE mentioned and if so what the amount is (this will show by clicking a link there is a statement along the lines of ' like many, you have been contracted out.....'.)

Unfortunately you'll then have to eithe brave the HMRC phonelines (or send a cheque by post) to pay. 

Nanucleo

Max forecast                £185.50
current to April 2022.   £153.10
Years available             2
Full years prior 2016    31 
Post 2016                    Nil
Years not filled.            17
yes COPE estimate.     £12.39pw