18 digit reference number for voluntary contribution

RileyJT

If you want to make a voluntary contribution to fill any gaps in contributions, you need a 18 digit national insurance reference number. The advice is to call HMRC to get this number but wait times are typically 45 - 60 mins.
Surely there is somewhere where this can be located if you have a national insurance number or use online self assessment ?

TadleyBaggie

Nope, you have to make the call to get the reference number.

Alternatively you can pay for NI years by post using a cheque.

p00hsticks

RileyJT said:

If you want to make a voluntary contribution to fill any gaps in contributions, you need a 18 digit national insurance reference number. The advice is to call HMRC to get this number but wait times are typically 45 - 60 mins.
Surely there is somewhere where this can be located if you have a national insurance number or use online self assessment ?

My understanding is that this 18 digit reference isn't a fixed number like your UTR or NI number - it's derived from the particular year(s) and related cost that you tell HMRC you want to buy. 

The alternative to a phone call is to put all the relevant infomation in a letter instead and send it with a cheque
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance: By cheque through the post - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Outeast1000

TadleyBaggie said:

Nope, you have to make the call to get the reference number.

Alternatively you can pay for NI years by post using a cheque.

Nope last ,May i got the ref number sent to me by post i went to my bank and paid what i had to pay by bank draft and a few weeks later it showed up on my NI record 

p00hsticks

Outeast1000 said:

TadleyBaggie said:

Nope, you have to make the call to get the reference number.

Alternatively you can pay for NI years by post using a cheque.

Nope last ,May i got the ref number sent to me by post i went to my bank and paid what i had to pay by bank draft and a few weeks later it showed up on my NI record 

But how did you initially request that they send you that reference number ?
Presumably either by phone or by writing to them - in whcih case why not either just ask for the reference number while on the phone, or put a cheque in with the letter ...?  

Suicided

I would appreciate it if I could get the reference as well,  I've called 65 times so far since start of month and have never got through.  Absolute appaling 'service'.

Aristotle67

Suicided said:

I would appreciate it if I could get the reference as well,  I've called 65 times so far since start of month and have never got through.  Absolute appaling 'service'.

I called three times in the last few weeks and got through each time, the longest wait was 25 minutes and the shortest was 3-4 minutes. I found the key is to call at 8.00 a.m. on the dot. Trying to beat this by calling a couple of minutes earlier, thinking that by the time the pre-recorded messages have played the clock will have ticked around to 8.00 and I will be first in the queue did not work for me as I got the "lines are not open" message and the call was subsequently ended. But 8.00 a.m. worked every time, just had to be patient and wait for an answer. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Suicided said:

I would appreciate it if I could get the reference as well,  I've called 65 times so far since start of month and have never got through.  Absolute appaling 'service'.

But you don't actually need it.

Is there any reason you have left it so late given the window to buy a lot of the currently available years has been open for many many years?

paul235

Aristotle67 said:

Suicided said:

I would appreciate it if I could get the reference as well,  I've called 65 times so far since start of month and have never got through.  Absolute appaling 'service'.

I called three times in the last few weeks and got through each time, the longest wait was 25 minutes and the shortest was 3-4 minutes. I found the key is to call at 8.00 a.m. on the dot. Trying and beat this by calling a couple of minutes earlier, thinking that by the time the pre-recorded messages have played the clock will have ticked around to 8.00 and I will be first in the queue did not work for me as I got the "lines are not open" message and the call was subsequently ended. But 8.00 a.m. worked every time, just had to be patient and wait for an answer. 

To get the 18-digit reference number which number to call HMRC on 0300 200 3500 or Future Pension Centre 0800 731 0175?

oldernonethewiser

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Suicided said:

I would appreciate it if I could get the reference as well,  I've called 65 times so far since start of month and have never got through.  Absolute appaling 'service'.

But you don't actually need it.

Is there any reason you have left it so late given the window to buy a lot of the currently available years has been open for many many years?

It is possible that the money to purchase the years was not availble to the OP until now.

I phoned at 08:00 one time and got through after 40 minutes.  Another time phoned at 15:00 and took 50 minutes to get through.

Aristotle67

paul235 said:

Aristotle67 said:

Suicided said:

I would appreciate it if I could get the reference as well,  I've called 65 times so far since start of month and have never got through.  Absolute appaling 'service'.

I called three times in the last few weeks and got through each time, the longest wait was 25 minutes and the shortest was 3-4 minutes. I found the key is to call at 8.00 a.m. on the dot. Trying and beat this by calling a couple of minutes earlier, thinking that by the time the pre-recorded messages have played the clock will have ticked around to 8.00 and I will be first in the queue did not work for me as I got the "lines are not open" message and the call was subsequently ended. But 8.00 a.m. worked every time, just had to be patient and wait for an answer. 

To get the 18-digit reference number which number to call HMRC on 0300 200 3500 or Future Pension Centre 0800 731 0175?

HMRC on 0300 200 3500 and explain for which years you wish to make payments. They should note these on the file when they give you the reference number, as you will make just one combined payment for the missing years, they will stipulate what this total amount is, and the payment can then be applied accordingly.