NI Top Up Deadline Extended To 5th April 2025

waveyjane

Is it just me who's been getting "Sorry, there is a problem with the service" when I try to log in to see my SP forecast, or is it really down? I've been trying for several days now.

molerat

It is not a general outage, there have been others reporting the same though.

Try clearing cookies, different browser, using the app etc.

Tastiger

I rang up back in February and got an 18 digit code to pay in 2 years of NI contributions. Does anyone know how long this code will last as haven't got round to paying the money in yet. Thank you

TabbyBee

MikeyPGT said:

Does that mean I can hang on to my hard earned cash for another two years even though I have already got a payment reference number?

I'm in just the same position and asked on the HMRC forum whether the reference number I already had would now be valid until the new 2025 deadline. Just got a reply this morning:

"The information you currently have to make a Voluntary National Insurance (NI) payment up to 31/7/23 expires after that date.
If you wish to make a Voluntary NI payment from 1/8/23 you will need to contact the National Insurance Helpline on 03002003500 open 8am to 6pm,
they will advise you of the amount to pay for the year required and provide a new 18-digit reference number."

Not really what I wanted to hear  but I thought it might be useful for others to know.  

TabbyBee

TabbyBee said:

MikeyPGT said:

Does that mean I can hang on to my hard earned cash for another two years even though I have already got a payment reference number?

I'm in just the same position and asked on the HMRC forum whether the reference number I already had would now be valid until the new 2025 deadline. Just got a reply this morning:

"The information you currently have to make a Voluntary National Insurance (NI) payment up to 31/7/23 expires after that date.
If you wish to make a Voluntary NI payment from 1/8/23 you will need to contact the National Insurance Helpline on 03002003500 open 8am to 6pm,
they will advise you of the amount to pay for the year required and provide a new 18-digit reference number."

Not really what I wanted to hear  but I thought it might be useful for others to know.  

Right, just had a different reply from HMRC - I asked for clarification after another enquiry got a different reply from mine. This is the latest: "To confirm, if the years in question are historic years where the rates are being held then any payment information and references would still be valid until April 2025." This seems to make more sense than having to ring again for a new number when the details are all staying the same. (My years are all pre-2022.)  

molerat

NI records should now be showing 5th April 2025 as the cut off date.

MouldyOldDough

I have 33 full  years of contributions (1979-2010) - contracted out

2011-2022 no credits due to low income 

2022-23 full - ongoing

I am now receiving NI credits based on a NIL paying ESA claim - I have been disabled (meeting the "requirement for" ESA) for 33 years...

I was unaware of my entitlement to free credits prior to 2022

I will have 40 years when I reach 67 in 2030 - which may not quite be enough for a full SP

Is there any point in my trying to get backdated NI credits for missing years - ie) 2011-2022 ?

MikeyPGT

TabbyBee said:

TabbyBee said:

MikeyPGT said:

Does that mean I can hang on to my hard earned cash for another two years even though I have already got a payment reference number?

I'm in just the same position and asked on the HMRC forum whether the reference number I already had would now be valid until the new 2025 deadline. Just got a reply this morning:

"The information you currently have to make a Voluntary National Insurance (NI) payment up to 31/7/23 expires after that date.
If you wish to make a Voluntary NI payment from 1/8/23 you will need to contact the National Insurance Helpline on 03002003500 open 8am to 6pm,
they will advise you of the amount to pay for the year required and provide a new 18-digit reference number."

Not really what I wanted to hear  but I thought it might be useful for others to know.  

Right, just had a different reply from HMRC - I asked for clarification after another enquiry got a different reply from mine. This is the latest: "To confirm, if the years in question are historic years where the rates are being held then any payment information and references would still be valid until April 2025." This seems to make more sense than having to ring again for a new number when the details are all staying the same. (My years are all pre-2022.)  

The second reply would seem to make sense.  Hopefully by the time April 2025 comes round they will have sorted their automated system and - if we do have to get a new reference number - it will be quick and simple.  I may not hold my breath!

molerat

MouldyOldDough said:

I have 33 full  years of contributions (1979-2010) - contracted out

2011-2022 no credits due to low income 

2022-23 full - ongoing

I am now receiving NI credits based on a NIL paying ESA claim - I have been disabled (meeting the "requirement for" ESA) for 33 years...

I was unaware of my entitlement to free credits prior to 2022

I will have 40 years when I reach 67 in 2030 - which may not quite be enough for a full SP

Is there any point in my trying to get backdated NI credits for missing years - ie) 2011-2022 ?

What exactly does your forecast show ? That will make it clear what you need to do and how much effort to put into it.  It is all about the minute detail. 

What is the top line big green box amount on the forecast, that will show if you can make the full amount going forward.

Current weekly £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2022 (or 2023 as some have been updated)
Number of pre April 2016 NI years full
Number of post April 2016 NI years full
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown, in a click link in "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" if there is one.

Confusedlad

Worthy of a post of its own.  Cut off date extended to 5 April 25 and prices held at 2022-23 rates until then.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deadline-for-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-extended-to-april-2025

Thank you molerat.  Maybe you (or someone at MSE) ought to send this to HMRC as I'm sure there are those working there that would find this informative.  Some  of their staff were clearly unaware of this.  I was called back by 'HMRC Customer Service' the other day - a month after I'd registered a complaint of being given 2 diametrically opposite pieces of advice on consecutive days early in June regarding rate freezes.  The Government Gateway had not (at that time) been updated to reflect the extension (it has now).

I was told that you shouldn't rely on the GG as its not intended to be 'that' accurate although it was also most likely that I had misunderstood the advice given in the phone calls.  I told him I had recorded the calls (I always do these days) and could send him the recordings, at which time he backed down and agreed that it was probably a problem 'at their end'. They claim to record all calls too but I doubt he had bothered to listen back to them.

This really isn't good enough, HMRC.  My advice is not to rely on ANYTHING they tell you but to visit this forum first.  Sounds like the longevity of the 18 digit reference number they are giving out is another case in point.