National Insurance Gaps

shandy92

My husband is self employed and needs to buy back 8 NI years from 2006 to 2014 to get a full pension. He spoke to HMRC and the advisor said he could buy these 8 years at the lower rate you would usually pay Class 2s which worked out approx. £1300 which he paid. HMRC hadn’t updated his record so he’s called several times over the last 6 months and been told to wait and the years would be updated soon. Now we have a letter saying the advice was incorrect. He’ll need to buy back at the higher rate. As it was HMRCs fault and took our payment do we have any chance of arguing they should stand by their advice? 

Marcon

shandy92 said:

My husband is self employed and needs to buy back 8 NI years from 2006 to 2014 to get a full pension. He spoke to HMRC and the advisor said he could buy these 8 years at the lower rate you would usually pay Class 2s which worked out approx. £1300 which he paid. HMRC hadn’t updated his record so he’s called several times over the last 6 months and been told to wait and the years would be updated soon. Now we have a letter saying the advice was incorrect. He’ll need to buy back at the higher rate. As it was HMRCs fault and took our payment do we have any chance of arguing they should stand by their advice? 

No, but given they've got it wrong once, it's worth asking why the advice was wrong and why he can't buy back at the lower rate.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

My husband is self employed

That isn't really relevant.  Was he self employed in all of the years he has made voluntary Class 2 NI payments for?

If he self employed throughout that period have HMRC explained why they think Class 3 needs to be paid?

p00hsticks

shandy92 said:

My husband is self employed and needs to buy back 8 NI years from 2006 to 2014 to get a full pension. 

Have you confirmed that with the Future Pensions Centre ?
Not all pre-2016 years will increase your pension forecast. 
If in doubt, post up the information from his State Pension Forecast for confirmation...

• Pension Amount forecast ?
• Current Entitlement  ? to April 2022 or April 2023 ?
• How many more years required to reach the forecast ?
• How many years ahead available between now and State Pension Age ?
• How many full years prior to April 2016 ?
• How many full years after April 2016 ?
• What years are not full ?
• Any COPE  ? (found via a clickable link if the forecast says something like 'you have been in a contracted out pension scheme at some point in the past')