The UK government has extended the deadline for making voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions to 5 April 2025, providing a final opportunity for many to boost their state pension entitlement.
This extension is particularly relevant for those affected by the new state pension transitional arrangements.
Understanding the New State Pension
The new state pension applies to:
- Men born on or after 6 April 1951
- Women born on or after 6 April 1953
To be eligible to qualify for a full state pension requires a minimum of 10 qualifying years of NI contributions. To qualify for the full state pension requires 35 qualifying years. Those with 10-35 qualifying years receive a proportional amount.
Voluntary NI Contributions
Individuals can fill gaps in their NI record by making voluntary contributions, subject to certain conditions. The standard deadline for making these contributions is 6 years from the end of the relevant tax year. However, until 5 April 2025, voluntary contributions can be made for missed years back to 2006.
Under the extension, individuals can make voluntary NI contributions by 5 April 2025 for:
- Tax years from 6 April 2018 to 5 April 2024 (under normal rules)
- Tax years from 6 April 2006 to 5 April 2018 (under the extension)
After 5 April 2025, it will no longer be possible to make voluntary contributions for tax years from 6 April 2006 to 5 April 2019.
Actions
HMRC advises individuals to:
- Check their NI record using HMRC’s app or online service
- Calculate if making a payment could increase their state pension
We would recommend that you also speak to your pensions or financial adviser as some situations may require more detailed analysis, such as cases where individuals were contracted out of the additional state pension under old rules.
For those living or working abroad, HMRC has published separate guidance on making voluntary NI contributions.
