HMRC letter says I tried to pay Class 3 (voluntary) contributions - I DIDN'T!

greyhoundwalker

Received a letter from HMRC dated 04/07/25 saying "Our records show you recently tried to pay Class 3 (voluntary) NI contributions for the tax years 2006-2021. You couldn't make these payments because of a service problem we had on 5 April 2025."

Whilst I may well have been looking at my NI/Tax accounts online at some stage around April, I certainly did NOT try to pay as they state in the letter. 

Back in November 2024 I DID pay for years 2017-18 and 2020-21, I have email confirmation from HMRC, and shorty after doing so, my New State Pension forecast updated to show I'd receive the full amount when I start drawing my pension in November this year. My NI record also updated to correctly show the payment I had made.

My NSP forecast now shows the current full £230.25pw and correctly says that's the most I can get, it can't be improved.

I've not been in paid employment since 2018, living on private pensions and savings. I have 39 full NI years 1976-2016 and 3 full years 2016-2024. I was contracted-out for several years, although I'm not sure which ones, my COPE amount is £59.23pw per the HMRC website.

The letter says payment is "needed" for years 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, a total of £3273.40. But if my NSP forecast is to be believed, I can't see there's any point in paying.

Just wondering if anyone who may know about these sort of things can opine as to what I should do, if anything? Have given-up trying to get through to HMRC by phone.

Many thanks. (I hope that's not too much of a ramble).

ni_formular

The same has happened to me, got a similar letter, i logged in April to double check my forecast, i paid the tops ups last year, i just wanted to see if anything had changed since the last time i checked. My estimate said it cant be improved! They are now asking for 2021 2022 to be paid? i don't no what they are playing at. 

ni_formular

It mentioned in another thread, don't know how to link the comment,
'Received a letter from HMRC today, dated 24 Jun, stating that I had tried to pay class 3 contributions on line but could not due to a service problem on 5th April.  It gives me the details of payable gaps and until 22 Aug to pay at the pre April 6th rates and loads of contact details.
I didn't actually try to pay, because I cannot increase my pension, but I did log in to the system and look at a few things.  So they are still looking into who logged into various areas and contacting them.' posted by 

molerat

greyhoundwalker

Hmmm, I suppose it's somewhat comforting to hear that I'm not alone 

I think I'll sleep on it and maybe have another go at phoning in the morning. I'll report back if I get some sense from them.

HMRC must be on a bit of a roll, I also had a letter today requesting repayment of my deceased mothers pension overpayment, so a bit of a double whammy!

greyhoundwalker

Having had a read of several other threads on this board (probably should have done so before posting, sorry!) and now understanding that my NSP forecast is correct and true, I'm going to ignore the letter.

Silvertabby

ni_formular said:

The same has happened to me, got a similar letter, i logged in April to double check my forecast, i paid the tops ups last year, i just wanted to see if anything had changed since the last time i checked. My estimate said it cant be improved! They are now asking for 2021 2022 to be paid? i don't no what they are playing at. 

HMRC can only see gaps and, I presume, are trying to be helpful.  But this could lead to some confusion....

I paid my Voluntary Class 3s 4 years ago, which took me to the full nSP.  The 4th year only bought me £4.80 per week, but it was still worth doing.  I then received a message from HMRC saying that one NI year remained unpaid, and telling me how to pay Class 3s.  I knew to ignore it, but others could have believed that they still owed this money, or that paying it would increase their State pension.    

ni_formular

The letter is badly worded, i had a hell of of a time to get my top ups excepted last year. It should say ignore this letter if you haven't attempted to make a payment, and not say these gaps need to be payed. TBF it does say contact the pension service first but some people may panic and just pay up because  the tax office said 'payment needed'

ni_formular

greyhoundwalker said:

Having had a read of several other threads on this board (probably should have done so before posting, sorry!) and now understanding that my NSP forecast is correct and true, I'm going to ignore the letter.

As i will, must admit I was worried at first about the way it was worded, i.e 'payment needed' ? As you say if the forecast says you cant improve your NSP that should be taken as fact.

greyhoundwalker

HMRC seem to have me firmly in their sights at the moment: this NI letter, Mum's overpaid pension, and lo and behold I've also just had the letter telling me I can claim my pension 

jem16

greyhoundwalker said:

HMRC seem to have me firmly in their sights at the moment: this NI letter, Mum's overpaid pension, and lo and behold I've also just had the letter telling me I can claim my pension 

HMRC has nothing to do with either your Mum's overpaid pension or claiming your own state pension. That's the DWP who will handle both.

greyhoundwalker

jem16 said:

greyhoundwalker said:

HMRC seem to have me firmly in their sights at the moment: this NI letter, Mum's overpaid pension, and lo and behold I've also just had the letter telling me I can claim my pension 

HMRC has nothing to do with either your Mum's overpaid pension or claiming your own state pension. That's the DWP who will handle both.

Yes, I was getting a bit muddled with things there for a while.

Anyway, just for closure, I've now had another letter from DWP confirming they'll start my NSP payments in November and that they'll be for the full current rate of £921 every 4 weeks.