Paying NI contribution gaps for time spent working abroad

JayJay2319

Hi guys, trying to find some info, searched the forum but haven’t seen anything that relates, so hoping someone can help. 

I’ve been advised to apply to HMRC as I spent some time working abroad. On the form, I’ve been asked to provide my previous employer directly before I went abroad. Then there’s a box each where I need to fill in my employer details while I was away and also my address. 

I was in Australia, where I was backpacking and moving around a lot, and had quite a few jobs (I was there 3.5 years in total, where I also spent time studying). 

Unfortunately I have no record of these details. I could find maybe 2 employers, but start/end dates would be impossible. I could put one address I know of, again tho, start/end dates would be impossible. 

Does anyone have any insight into how I could go about this? Would I get away with just putting one employer/ one address without the actual dates?

There isn’t even anything written that advised something like “ if there’s more than one, please list on a separate form” which I’ve seen before on pretty much any other type of form that requires an answer which could have more than one entry. 

QrizB

HMRC need your work history so they can calculate your NI payments based on when you were working and when you weren't. They'll need start and finish dates, plus dates for the periods when you were studying (when presumably you were not employed).

pinnks

The reason they need to information is to determine whether you can pay at the 80% cheaper Class 2 rate for any week.  There are 2 conditions:

1. you must have been ordinarily an employed, or self-employed, earner until immediately before you left the UK.
2. If you meet condition 1, then for any week during which you were employed, or self-employed, abroad, you can pay at the Class 2 rate rather than Class 3.

If you do not meet condition 1 and/or cannot provide sufficient evidence of working abroad for the relevant weeks, HMRC will authorise only Class 3.

DRS1

If you had a working holiday visa and applied for a second one wouldn't you have some record from that of the employers and dates for the first visa period?

JayJay2319

DRS1 said:

If you had a working holiday visa and applied for a second one wouldn't you have some record from that of the employers and dates for the first visa period?

That’s a good shout actually. However it would only cover the 3 months of agricultural work. Not to mention the fact this was back in 2007 so unfortunately I won’t have any of that paperwork still kicking about. (I’ve already went through my emails from back then)

pinnks

I guess a bigger picture question is, "do you need to worry at all about those 3, or so, years?"  Also, you mention 2007.  Which years are you seeking to pay and did you start the process before 5 April 2025?  If not then you can only pay 2019/20 onwards, so I am not sure why 2007 would be overly relevant?

Also, how many years do you have between now and pension age?  What does your pension forecast show, and will you achieve a full pension through mandatory NI between now and then?  If so, there is no point busting a gut over something from so long ago...

LITRG

Hello, although in a slightly different context, there is some hopefully useful information in this article to help you understand whether you can/should make voluntary contributions: https://www.litrg.org.uk/news/act-now-maximise-your-state-pension-entitlement. Thanks