Checking your National Insurance records

HMRC offers an online service for checking your National Insurance Contributions (NIC) record. The service is available on the Government website.

You will need a Government Gateway account to use this service. If you do not have an account, you can apply to set one up online.

By signing in to the ‘Check your National Insurance record’ service, you will also activate your personal tax account if you have not previously done so. HMRC’s personal tax account can be used to complete a variety of tasks in real-time, such as claiming a tax refund, updating your address and completing your self-assessment return.

Your National Insurance record online will let you see:

• What you have paid, up to the start of the current tax year (6 April 2024).
• Any National Insurance credits you have received.
• If gaps in contributions or credits mean some years do not count towards your State Pension (they are not ‘qualifying years’).
• If you can pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps how much this will cost.

In some circumstances it may be beneficial, after reviewing your records, to make voluntary NIC contributions to fill gaps in your contributions record to increase your entitlement to benefits, including the State or New State Pension. If you would like to discuss this further, please call.