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Where can my son get an HMRC letter showing his NI number?

28 replies

elliejjtiny · 18/03/2026 11:18

19 year old ds1 just messaged me from uni saying his new job needs a letter from hmrc with his NI number on so they can pay him. I can't find anything. I've got loads from the dwp but none from HMRC. Google tells me letters from HMRC are rare because they are mostly paperless. Does anyone know what HMRC would write to him about as it might give me ideas of where to find something from them.

OP posts:
Eightdayz · 18/03/2026 11:20

Surely they just need the number. Do they still give out cards? If not it'll be on his p45/p60 tax forms

Itsafactitsactual · 18/03/2026 11:20

why do they need a letter? Surely they need the NI number?

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elliejjtiny · 18/03/2026 11:35

Goodness knows. I have sent him a copy of a letter from DWP which has his name, address and NI number on it. Hopefully they will accept that.

OP posts:
jade3081 · 18/03/2026 11:36

You can just go on the HMRC and download it

Flannelfeet · 18/03/2026 11:38

Eightdayz · 18/03/2026 11:20

Surely they just need the number. Do they still give out cards? If not it'll be on his p45/p60 tax forms

I was thinking the same, ive still got my card somewhere, possibly in an old purse 😆

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 18/03/2026 11:44

Did he get a letter from HMRC with his number on just before his 16th birthday?

Salome61 · 18/03/2026 11:46

I hope your son keeps the letter in a safe place. A flat mate took my NI number many moons ago and gave it to her employer :( She didn't tell me for many years.

Itsafactitsactual · 18/03/2026 11:48

Salome61 · 18/03/2026 11:46

I hope your son keeps the letter in a safe place. A flat mate took my NI number many moons ago and gave it to her employer :( She didn't tell me for many years.

Yeah that happens more often than you think.

I don't think HMRC will provide OP with details, it'll have to be the son who asks.

JehovasFitness · 18/03/2026 12:11

He needs to make a tax account and he can download and print the letter.

This is for him to sort, not his parents.

SnowyRock · 18/03/2026 12:19

Salome61 · 18/03/2026 11:46

I hope your son keeps the letter in a safe place. A flat mate took my NI number many moons ago and gave it to her employer :( She didn't tell me for many years.

What was the point in using yours rather than her own?

Isobel201 · 18/03/2026 12:41

I was given a plastic card with my NI number on it, not sure when it got sent but it was in a drawer in my dad's bedroom for years before I started looking for a job. Probably early 2000s or late 90s

Itsafactitsactual · 18/03/2026 12:42

SnowyRock · 18/03/2026 12:19

What was the point in using yours rather than her own?

She likely wasn't allowed to work or have an NI number.

Isobel201 · 18/03/2026 12:43

elliejjtiny · 18/03/2026 11:35

Goodness knows. I have sent him a copy of a letter from DWP which has his name, address and NI number on it. Hopefully they will accept that.

that'll be fine, he just needs the number.

skyeisthelimit · 18/03/2026 12:44

HMRC say that they send out the NINO in the approach to their 16th birthday, but DD never got hers. I had to fill in a form to request it for her.

handmademitlove · 18/03/2026 12:46

HMRC have an app. to use it you need to set up a government gateway account, then log in. Once on the app, you can download an NI letter.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/download-the-hmrc-app

Download the HMRC app

How to download and access the HMRC app on a mobile device to get information about your tax, National Insurance and benefits.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/download-the-hmrc-app

Tomikka · 18/03/2026 12:46

Salome61 · 18/03/2026 11:46

I hope your son keeps the letter in a safe place. A flat mate took my NI number many moons ago and gave it to her employer :( She didn't tell me for many years.

Check your NI records

https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

You don’t want any discrepancies to be found in the future once you are due for your pension

Check your National Insurance record

Find out if you've paid enough National Insurance to qualify for the full State Pension - check gaps, contributions and credits, get a National Insurance statement, call the helpline.

https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 18/03/2026 12:47

My two 16 an 17 have actually got a physical letter showing NI number. They don’t do cards like when I was young. I’m sure you can ask them to resend it or print out online.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 18/03/2026 12:51

NI number is usually sent around 16th birthday. As we were living abroad at that point neither of my children got theirs. Oldest was able to get a copy sent out but by the time youngest needed his they had stopped doing that and it was a bit of a palava to get his number. He has never had a “this is your NI number” letter but knows what it is as it’s now on various other letters. It has never been a problem and he’s now 37.

Comefromaway · 18/03/2026 12:53

Has he got a passport (current or expired)? If he doesn't have a passport then a document from is one of the additional documents he might need to provide for a right to work check.

Otherwise he only needs his NI number, not a letter.

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 18/03/2026 12:56

Isobel201 · 18/03/2026 12:41

I was given a plastic card with my NI number on it, not sure when it got sent but it was in a drawer in my dad's bedroom for years before I started looking for a job. Probably early 2000s or late 90s

They stopped giving those out in 2011. Everyone replying is out of date it’s very simple now.

OP he needs to sign up for a government gateway ID on the app, sign in and you can then print the page where NI is shown or the confirmation letter on the account.

GoldenCupsatHarvestTime · 18/03/2026 12:57

Cyclistmumgrandma · 18/03/2026 12:51

NI number is usually sent around 16th birthday. As we were living abroad at that point neither of my children got theirs. Oldest was able to get a copy sent out but by the time youngest needed his they had stopped doing that and it was a bit of a palava to get his number. He has never had a “this is your NI number” letter but knows what it is as it’s now on various other letters. It has never been a problem and he’s now 37.

Your youngest is 7 years older than me and I got both a letter and a plastic NI card.

Mum2Fergus · 18/03/2026 13:00

HMRC app, or he can call them.

Mcdhotchoc · 18/03/2026 13:02

You can download the letter from HMRC app

Eightdayz · 18/03/2026 15:34

Flannelfeet · 18/03/2026 11:38

I was thinking the same, ive still got my card somewhere, possibly in an old purse 😆

Im quite sad to tell you I committed it to memory years ago.

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