Class 3 voluntary contribution - easiest and quickest way to pay?

BoxerfanUK

Having been contracted out for many years I'm thinking of paying one year of class 3 before my state pension which is due in Feb 2025.   2021/22 year will cost £800.80 and will then put me on the maximum I can get.  Whats the easiest/quickest way to pay please?

sheramber

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

BoxerfanUK

sheramber said:

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

Thanks, but it’s asking me for an 18 digit reference number….. which I don’t have!!

p00hsticks

BoxerfanUK said:

Having been contracted out for many years I'm thinking of paying one year of class 3 before my state pension which is due in Feb 2025.   2021/22 year will cost £800.80 and will then put me on the maximum I can get.  Whats the easiest/quickest way to pay please?

If you want to avoid getting the 18 digit reference, then if you have a cheque book yo ucan write a cheque for the amount and post it with a covering note that includes your NI number and other details as outlined here under the 'if you do not have a HMRC payslip' heading 
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance: By cheque through the post - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Not sure whether the proposed option to pay online via the Government Gateway is up and running yet - others here may know ?
Otherwise I think it's still the case of phoning HMRC to get that 18 digit reference that you need to do a bank transfer - phone numbers towards the bottom of this page
National Insurance: general enquiries - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 

[Deleted User]

I found it quicker to contact and talk to HMRC via the webchat. After a short wait a very helpful person provided me with all the information I had requested.

Ayr_Rage

@p00hsticks the online option to pay is available but not for everybody.

@boxerfanUK if you log in to your gov.uk account you may be able to pay that year online.