HMRC voluntary NIC reference length issue

MarcusHutch

Hello folks,

I am having an issue with paying my & my wife's voluntary NICs from abroad.

The HMRC letter asks to pay online where possible, but asks for the following reference length:
(by cheque): payable to "HM Revenue & Customs only xx123456X [NIC #] NIC from abroad Area 14". Far too long for e.g. First Direct online banking payment reference, which only allows a max. of 18 characters.

Further on in the letter, it says for bank payments, use "NI #, surname & initial", not a note saying paying from abroad! Confused of Portugal ;-) 

Any words of wisdom from those who have done this already much appreciated.

pinnks

If you are paying in relation to NI years during which you are abroad, the reference number is "NI number" plus "IC" plus "surnameinitials", or as much of that as will fit (starting from the left) in your bank's payment reference box.  

MarcusHutch

pinnks said:

If you are paying in relation to NI years during which you are abroad, the reference number is "NI number" plus "IC" plus "surnameinitials", or as much of that as will fit (starting from the left) in your bank's payment reference box.  

Many thanks for that. We travelled a lot so some years are when we were abroad & some when we were in the UK....

pinnks

That's an interesting one.  The money won't get lost (well, not for ever, lol) and as the International Team is involved, I think I would use the international reference for all payments.  The alternative would be to call HMRC and ask how they want you to group the payments and what reference(s) to use.

MarcusHutch

Sorry to be a pain - would you clarify what the international reference is please? (IC?)
Many thanks.

molerat

MarcusHutch said:

Sorry to be a pain - would you clarify what the international reference is please? (IC?)
Many thanks.

Yes ..................