How to check your National Insurance Record 

To check your current National Insurance record and take advantage of the opportunity to fill any gaps, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official HMRC website.
2. Sign in to the service using your Government Gateway account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create an account first.
3. Once logged in, you’ll be able to view your National Insurance record, which will show:
   • Your National Insurance contributions up to the start of the current tax year (6 April 2024) 
   • Any National Insurance credits you’ve received
   • Gaps in your contributions or credits that may affect your State Pension qualification
   • Whether you can pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps and the associated costs
4. Review your record carefully to identify any years that are not ‘qualifying years’ for your State Pension.
5. If you find gaps, consider making voluntary National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to fill them and potentially increase your entitlement to benefits, including the State Pension.

Additional Benefits

By using this service, you’ll also activate your personal tax account if you haven’t done so already. This account allows you to perform various tasks online, such as:

• Claiming tax refunds
• Updating your address
• Completing your Self-Assessment tax return

Important considerations

• The information shown will be up to the start of the current tax year, so recent contributions may not be reflected.
• In some cases, making voluntary contributions can be beneficial for your future pension entitlement.

If you need assistance interpreting your National Insurance record or deciding whether to make voluntary contributions, please get in touch with us. Everyone’s circumstances are unique so it’s important to get advice around your situation before making any decisions.