When and how to top up your National Insurance contributions :Cross Stitch – Money, tax and benefits

If you’ve got gaps in your National Insurance contributions record you may be able to top up the shortfall by making one-off voluntary payments. If you’re not working or getting National Insurance credits, you may also be able to make regular payments to protect your contributions record for the future.

If you want to top up a National Insurance contributions shortfall, you normally have to do this within six years of the end of the tax year for which the contributions are being paid. You can do this even if you’ve already reached State Pension age.

If you pay more than two years after the end of the relevant tax year, the rate will normally go up.

However, there are exceptions (to time limits and/or the rates you have to pay) for certain tax years.

Normal six year time limits

2006-07	5 April 2023
2007-08	5 April 2023
2008-09	5 April 2023
2009-10	5 April 2023
2010-11	5 April 2023
2011-12	5 April 2023