How do I make a Voluntary Contribution for NIC.

[1099]

Recently checked my Pension Forecast on the .Gov gateway app and discovered that the year 20-21 was only partially paid, (turns out it was because my son was 12 that year), so only 36 weeks paid. It says I can make a Voluntary Contribution to top up the year but it doesn't tell me how, I keep following the links but they seem to just go round in circles. I rang HMRC but they referred me to Future Pensions Centre who referred me back to HMRC as apparently they collect the payment.
Does anyone know how I make the payment.

Finally got through this morning and only a 20 minute wait. However I forgot to ask him this question:
Do I need a new reference number for each payment or can I use this one to make a payment now and another later? anyone know.

I'd be interested to know this as well...

This is how you pay voluntary class 3 NI contributions
www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance

There is general information about voluntary NI contributions and how to work out whether you should pay them at www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

That's not really what is being asked, we know how to pay and how to get the 18 digit reference code.
What I need to know is can I reuse the code or do I have to get a new one each time I choose to make a payment.

I have made voluntary contributions twice and was given a different reference number for each. Each reference was tied to a particular years deficit. It's also important to pay the exact amount eg ,£12.47, not round up.

Bump

As far as I know, the 18-digit reference number is for a specific payment, so you have to go through this rigmarole each time.

I stopped trying as the payment I need to make is for 2017-18 and the message at the Future Pension Centre says not to call unless you need a reference number for 2016-17 (as that's the year where the deadline will soon expire). Did you call HMRC or Future Pension Centre?

I've had the same log in for my hmrc for years
No need to get a new one each time.
Takes a while to get used to it, and they have an app too which is handy

Not talking about the login, we're talking about the 18 digit code needed to make top up contributions.

I'm going to give the number a call and hope that I get through successfully .
My gap is 2 weeks on 2006/7 but the government website still says I can pay until the deadline in April.
Can anyone tell me what information I need to hand- i can only think of National Insurance number but would hate to wait ages and then find I wasn't ready with some vital piece of information?!

@Noseylittlemoo
As you say NI number and details of the missing payment, they asked me whether I'd already spoken with Future Pensions Office, then gave me the code and the account details (although you can get the a/c details from the website if you search).

Thanks @1099 !

Glad I found this thread! @1099 I'm going to call later, I'll try nd remember to ask if you need a new code in future

@1099 - I am under the impression you need a new code everytime you make a payment. AFAIK It is specific to the years you want to pay.

To me it's not worth the risk of paying anything unless you have spoken to them and got a new code - I don't know why some people have suggested oh it will be fine with just x / y/ z - It could go into a black hole and be lost forever so might as well pay it as per their awful digit code to ensure it goes to the right person and years missing.

At the moment you can pay for missed years going back quite a long way but the option will stop on April 5th 2023 and you will then only be able to go back 6 years. As the date is getting close, it's unsurprising that the help lines are VERY busy so you can expect a long wait on the phone. Still worth it though.

I have 7 years missing, 91-98, A'levels, then Uni. 2 years after Uni that I have say £180 paid. It says it's too late to pay back. Really irritated by this.

It says I only have 27 years. And need another 17. At 50, That takes me all the way to 67. So sad.

You don't need another 17, you need another 8 complete years and you have 17 years in which to fill them. You need 35 complete years in total, and you have until you're 67 to achieve that.

Thank you Lab. I did think it was 35, and couldn't understand why it was saying 17.

Honestly I got fed up and asked DH’s accountant to do it. Theres some sort of secret handshake and special mystical eyebrow waggle involved in getting this done.

Resurrecting this thread, as I am currently stuck in a queue (44 minutes so far!) to try and get the necessary reference code.

They have extended the deadline to 31st July, but it still seems impossible to get through.

I might try the 0300 200 3500 number suggested above, when/if they eventually cut me off this call.

I'm on hold also - impossible

I got to speak to someone after an hour 15minutes, and managed to sort it all out!!

Both the men I spoke to were extremely helpful and I was able to get the elusive 18 digit code and their bank details. So I have made the payment which turned out to be even better value than I expected.

One hint for people still struggling: they said the queues are shorter at 8am!

Also, they gave the option of paying through the government gateway, but last time I logged onto that, I had to go through a lengthy process of getting a new password because I'd not used it for a few years, so it's worth getting that sorted in advance if you are can't use on-line banking for large sums.

good luck for everyone else

Good work @Choccyp1g even if it's an hour and 15 of your life you'll never get back!

So to be clear, you called the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175. They're open Monday-Friday 8am to 6pm and they recommend calling at 8.

Did they explain if the elusive 18-digit number was just for the one year? Did you only have one year you wanted to top up?

The 18 digit number is for one PAYMENT, but covers as many years as you arrange to pay.

I talked it through with the person on the 0800 731 0175 number (I think I chose options 1, 3, 4 from the automated menu).
He told me which years I could pay for, and how much each years payment would affect my annual pension, then transferred me to another person for their bank sort code, account number and name and the 18 digit code.
He explained that the 18 digit code identifies me, and the amount I paid (including pence) could only relate to a specific combination of tax years, but that they made a note of which years I was paying as well.

The second person said it might take 12 weeks(!) before I saw the changed forecast on the GOV.UK website.

An hour and 15 minutes, plus all the previous times I called and got cut off after about 15 minutes. I've just found them listed on my phone, adds up to another 3.5 hours.
But worth it, unless I die in the next 4 years!