State pension National Insurance HMRC statement over 18-digit payment number

Individuals attempting to purchase National Insurance (NI) contributions towards their state pension have been advised that they require a specific reference number to complete the process online. The issue came to light after a taxpayer reached out to HMRC for assistance, as they were having difficulty topping up their contributions.

Typically, 35 years of NI contributions are needed to receive the full new state pension, and 30 years' worth for the full basic state pension. The taxpayer inquired: "If I wanted to buy back NI credits and can’t do it online, how would I go about it please? Tried calling the Future Pension Service but just get referred back to the website and cut off."

HMRC initially asked if they needed to determine the number of missing contributions they wanted to fill in and the associated cost. The individual replied that they already had this information.

The tax authority then provided a link to the Government website for paying voluntary Class 3 NI contributions, but the person stated that this did not address their question. HMRC subsequently said: "If you wish to make the payment online, you'll need a reference number issuing to you, by contacting an adviser on the helpline."

They also sent the individual a link to a page with details on how to contact them about a National Insurance issue. However, the taxpayer responded that this was likewise unhelpful, as the issue was that when they logged into their account, "it says I am unable to make payment online".

HMRC then made it clear that an 18-digit reference number is crucial for making online payments, stating: "You can't make an online payment without the reference number." Frustrated again, the taxpayer contacted them again the following day, lamenting: "I tried what you advised and have been told I need to contact the Pension Service, disappointingly more going round in circles."

Taxpayers may want to check now for any gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record, as there's a chance to fill these in over an extended range of tax years. Typically, you can only purchase contributions going back six tax years, but currently this is broadened to an additional 10 years, reaching back to the 2006/2007 tax year— with an April 2025 deadline for topping up during this extended window.

To verify whether you have gaps in your NI contributions, you can check your record on the Government website. The current full new state pension sits at £221.20 a week, while the full basic state pension provides £169.50 a week. A large number of pensioners don't possess complete contributions, resulting in lower pension amounts.

A minimum of 10 years' worth of NI contributions is necessary for qualifying for any state pension. With payouts set to rise by 4.1 percent come April, the full new state pension will bump up to £230.30 weekly, and the full basic state pension will climb to £176.45 a week.