Written statement on HM Revenue and Customs Update - Mar 7

Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Victoria Atkins): From April 2013, the Government permitted individuals to retrospectively build their April 2006 to April 2016 National Insurance (NICs) record through voluntary contributions as part of transitional arrangements introduced alongside the new State Pension. The deadline for voluntary contributions was set for 5 April 2023.

HMRC and DWP have experienced a recent surge in customer contact. To ensure customers do not miss out, the Government intends to extend the 5 April deadline to pay voluntary NICs to 31 July this year. This applies to years that would otherwise have been out of time to pay after 5 April, up to and including the 2016/17 tax year. All voluntary NICs payments will be accepted at the existing 2022/23 rates until the 31 July.