New online service for voluntary contributions goes live
If you have gaps in your NI history, you can pay voluntary contributions to increase your entitlement to certain benefits, e.g. the state pension. You can now do this online. How do you access the new service?
If you have an incomplete contribution record for a particular tax year, you will receive a statement advising you of the position, usually about 20 months after the end of the year in question. The statement will also show the amount of voluntary contributions required to complete the contributions record for that year. This could be worthwhile if it is unlikely that future contributions from earnings will give you a full state pension, e.g. if you’re close to retirement age. If you're unsure whether an incomplete record exists for a previous year, you can check your contributions record via your personal tax account. HMRC has extended the deadline for making up any contributions shortfall as voluntary contributions can now be paid (at 2022/23 rates) by 5 April 2025 in respect of any years from 2006/07 to 2017/18.
The new service allows you to check whether paying Class 3 contributions is likely to increase your state pension entitlement, make a payment with an immediate confirmation, and is digital from end to end, i.e. you no longer need to contact HMRC for a reference number.
Related Topics
-
Scammers already targeting pensioners over winter fuel payments
Phishing attacks are already being sent to pensioners purporting to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). What’s going on and how can you avoid becoming a victim?
-
Changes to NDAs from 1 October 2025
From 1 October 2025 non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) will become unenforceable if they prevent victims of crime from making certain disclosures. What does the new law say?
-
When will you have to register your new business for MTD?
The timetable for mandatory use of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD ITSA) by existing businesses is well established. But when must you use MTD ITSA if you start a new business or create a new income stream?
This website uses both its own and third-party cookies to analyze our services and navigation on our website in order to improve its contents (analytical purposes: measure visits and sources of web traffic). The legal basis is the consent of the user, except in the case of basic cookies, which are essential to navigate this website.