It's impossible to contact HMRC to pay voluntary NI contributions, any ideas?

delmonta

Hi, I need to pay a few years voluntary NI contributions from way back, before the deadline on April 5th. I've called multiple times, but the automated woman just says you can find info online, sorry we can't help you more right now and then ends the call. I can't find any way to be put on hold to speak to someone! 

I also tried the web chat, but that also says 'we can't help you right now'

Does anyone know how you can get through?

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've moved this thread to the part of the forum which covers such matters

molerat

If you cannot pay on line using the automated tool in your tax account you need to book a call back with DWP, you cannot jut contact HMRC to pay.

Request a call back to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions - GOV.UK   That will put a hold on the 5 April clock.

delmonta

molerat said:

If you cannot pay on line using the automated tool in your tax account you need to book a call back with DWP, you cannot jut contact HMRC to pay.

Request a call back to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions - GOV.UK   That will put a hold on the 5 April clock.

But they tell you to call and pay?

I have done the call back request, but I am at work all the time and have my phone on silent so will almost certainly not receive it

molerat

But they tell you to call and pay?

The problem though comes when someone pays a year that does not add to the pension.  HMRC are tax collectors, they have no knowledge of how a year affects the pension amount, it is not in their remit, that is the function of DWP.  So if that valueless year is collected by HMRC who will get the blame ?

delmonta

molerat said:

But they tell you to call and pay?

The problem though comes when someone pays a year that does not add to the pension.  HMRC are tax collectors, they have no knowledge of how a year affects the pension amount, it is not in their remit, that is the function of DWP.  So if that valueless year is collected by HMRC who will get the blame ?

I'm confused, I called the future pensions place, as mentioned in the MSE article and they said I could fill in a variety of years from 2006 to now as I missed quite a few, and then told me to call HMRC. 

So I don't really understand what you mean, or if I'm doing something wrong? 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

delmonta said:

molerat said:

But they tell you to call and pay?

The problem though comes when someone pays a year that does not add to the pension.  HMRC are tax collectors, they have no knowledge of how a year affects the pension amount, it is not in their remit, that is the function of DWP.  So if that valueless year is collected by HMRC who will get the blame ?

I'm confused, I called the future pensions place, as mentioned in the MSE article and they said I could fill in a variety of years from 2006 to now as I missed quite a few, and then told me to call HMRC. 

So I don't really understand what you mean, or if I'm doing something wrong? 

You haven't previously disclosed that information.

molerat

When did you contact FPC ?  I was under the impression they put you through to HMRC to pay.  To contact HMRC now the only chance is to call spot on opening time and hope you get put through.

delmonta

molerat said:

When did you contact FPC ?  I was under the impression they put you through to HMRC to pay.  To contact HMRC now the only chance is to call spot on opening time and hope you get put through.

I called them about couple of weeks ago, and after discussing things she told me basically what I already knew, and I asked if I could pay, and she said I had to call HMRC to pay. 

So it didn't really make sense to me either

QrizB

If you log into your taxpayer account, do you have the option to pay them online? It's a fairly recent change.

delmonta

QrizB said:

If you log into your taxpayer account, do you have the option to pay them online? It's a fairly recent change.

No I don't unfortunately, I tried. I think its because they are still calculating some years that I recently amended