Taxpayers given more time for voluntary National Insurance contributions

The government has extended the voluntary National Insurance deadline to 31 July 2023 to give taxpayers more time to fill gaps in their National Insurance record and help increase the amount they receive in State Pension.

This comes after members of the public voiced concern over the previous deadline of 5 April 2023.

The deadline extension was announced via a Written Ministerial Statement earlier today (7 March 2023) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging taxpayers to ensure they do not miss out.

Anyone with gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 onwards now has more time to decide whether to fill the gaps to boost their new State Pension. Any payments made will be at the lower 2022 to 2023 tax year rates.

As part of transitional arrangements to the new State Pension, taxpayers have been able to make voluntary contributions to any incomplete years in their National Insurance record between April 2006 and April 2016, to help increase the amount they receive when they retire. And after an increase in customer contact, the government has extended the deadline to ensure people have time to make their contributions.

Victoria Atkins, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“We’ve listened to concerned members of the public and have acted.

“We recognise how important State Pensions are for retired individuals, which is why we are giving people more time to fill any gaps in their National Insurance record to help bolster their entitlement.”

Thousands of taxpayers with incomplete years in their National Insurance record could be financially better off in their retirement if they make voluntary payments to top up any incomplete or missing years.

Eligible taxpayers can find out how to check their National Insurance record, obtain a State Pension forecast, decide if making a voluntary National Insurance contribution is worthwhile for them and their pension, and how to make a payment on GOV.UK.

Taxpayers can check their National Insurance record, via the HMRC app or their Personal Tax Account.

Notes to Editors

1. More information on how a taxpayer’s National Insurance record affects their State Pension.
2. The original deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions from April 2006 up to April 2017 was 5 April 2023.
3. Where the rates of voluntary National Insurance contributions were due to go to up from 6 April 2023, payments made by 31 July 2023 will be paid at the lower rate.
4. Follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice