Class 2 NI. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributions?
#241
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Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,062
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Hi All, sorry to jump on this but I'm relocating to the US at the end of February and I'm keen to pay my NI contributions.
I am a total novice with all this Class 2, Class 4 etc but as stated in the thread title Class 2 is being abolished.
I've just realised/noticed that you can check your contributions online and I've discovered that I have not been credited for 3 of the 5 years that I was at University - a letter has been sent
Does anyone have a link to the UK Gov section for setting up these payments? or should I wait until I am in the US?
Any help gratefully received.
I am a total novice with all this Class 2, Class 4 etc but as stated in the thread title Class 2 is being abolished.
I've just realised/noticed that you can check your contributions online and I've discovered that I have not been credited for 3 of the 5 years that I was at University - a letter has been sent
Does anyone have a link to the UK Gov section for setting up these payments? or should I wait until I am in the US?
Any help gratefully received.
After you move, you'll need to apply to pay class 2 contributions. I'll try to find the form.
Make sure you retain a UK bank account after moving. It will make your life so much easier.
Here ya go: https://assets.publishing.service.go...59966/NI38.pdf
And: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45439542
Last edited by chawkins99; Jan 10th 2019 at 1:52 pm.
#242
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 5
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
I'm open to correction here folks, but as far as I know, credits aren't given to university students; but they are given automatically on your 16th, 17th, and 18th birthday.
#243
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Joined: May 2011
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 80
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
#245
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2011
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 80
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Here are two links. The second one contains the form you have to fill out.
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-nationa...-contributions
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ty-abroad-ni38
#247
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Joined: Jan 2019
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 18
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
The rules are different for people paying voluntary contributions abroad. Basically, if you've worked in the UK before leaving and you're going to work abroad (no matter whether employed or self-employed), you should be eligible to class 2 contributions (which are much cheaper than class 3). If you don't meet the criteria, you can only pay the more expensive class 3 contributions.
Here are two links. The second one contains the form you have to fill out.
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-nationa...-contributions
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ty-abroad-ni38
Here are two links. The second one contains the form you have to fill out.
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-nationa...-contributions
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ty-abroad-ni38
#248
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 96
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Is there anything I can do to better prepare myself for paying class 2 contributions before I move? I'll be leaving in 4 weeks time and trying to get organised as best as possible. Is it just a case of wait until I have moved to start the process?
#249
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
If you haven’t done so already I would create an online account so you see your contributions
#250
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 96
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Thank you, have done that. I can see actually that I have a few missing years during University when I was working but likely did not earn enough.
I assume Class 2 contributions are only paid for those years when actually living abroad, and that I won't be able to pay for historic gaps in contributions prior to living abroad, at class 2 rates? (Probably a silly question but worth throwing out there if anybody knows)
Only 12 years of contributions and 3 years of Gaps for myself, which means there is still a lot of time before I will see any benefit from making class 2 (or 3 when class 2 is scrapped) contributions, and a lot of things may change before then
I assume Class 2 contributions are only paid for those years when actually living abroad, and that I won't be able to pay for historic gaps in contributions prior to living abroad, at class 2 rates? (Probably a silly question but worth throwing out there if anybody knows)
Only 12 years of contributions and 3 years of Gaps for myself, which means there is still a lot of time before I will see any benefit from making class 2 (or 3 when class 2 is scrapped) contributions, and a lot of things may change before then
#251
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Thank you, have done that. I can see actually that I have a few missing years during University when I was working but likely did not earn enough.
I assume Class 2 contributions are only paid for those years when actually living abroad, and that I won't be able to pay for historic gaps in contributions prior to living abroad, at class 2 rates? (Probably a silly question but worth throwing out there if anybody knows)
Only 12 years of contributions and 3 years of Gaps for myself, which means there is still a lot of time before I will see any benefit from making class 2 (or 3 when class 2 is scrapped) contributions, and a lot of things may change before then
I assume Class 2 contributions are only paid for those years when actually living abroad, and that I won't be able to pay for historic gaps in contributions prior to living abroad, at class 2 rates? (Probably a silly question but worth throwing out there if anybody knows)
Only 12 years of contributions and 3 years of Gaps for myself, which means there is still a lot of time before I will see any benefit from making class 2 (or 3 when class 2 is scrapped) contributions, and a lot of things may change before then
Since moving back I have been paying Class 3 since I'm so close to getting my OAP as I think they are also a good investment so close to retirement age. (age 66 for me I think and I'll be 64 next month). If they hadn't recently bumped up the number of years for full pension from 30 to 35 years I wouldn't be paying in at all now. Wish I'd been more diligent when I first moved over and started Class 2 contributions immediately, but at age 32 I just wasn't thinking long term, and it was a 2 year assignment I went out for.
#252
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2011
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 80
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
I assume Class 2 contributions are only paid for those years when actually living abroad, and that I won't be able to pay for historic gaps in contributions prior to living abroad, at class 2 rates? (Probably a silly question but worth throwing out there if anybody knows)
If you log into your Personal Account you can click on "View gaps in your record". It will show you whether you can still pay for the gap and, if so, how much. See https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/personal-account
For example, for 2009-10 I see "Pay a voluntary contribution of £689 by 5 April 2023. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2019." For 2000-01 on the other hand I get "It’s too late to pay for this year. You can usually only pay for the last 6 years."
#253
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 96
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Hmmm, I see the same message about paying back before it potentially increases in April, but as far back as 2006-2007 (and the two proceeding years), so it appears I can still pay for these years whilst I was at university and presumably not earning enough to qualift as a full year. Two of these cost less than £200 each, so not much more than the current class 2 payment, so in theory it would make sense to pay these now. The third payment is about £700 so might not necessarily be worth it
Last edited by samills610; Jan 14th 2019 at 1:56 pm.
#254
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Joined: Aug 2013
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Posts: 4,131
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
I'm only 31, but as I am moving with my USC wife I am with the mindset that this is a permanent move I do want to do exactly that and be diligent from the start really.
Hmmm, I see the same message about paying back before it potentially increases in April, but as far back as 2006-2007 (and the two proceeding years), so it appears I can still pay for these years whilst I was at university and presumably not earning enough to qualift as a full year. Two of these cost less than £200 each, so not much more than the current class 2 payment, so in theory it would make sense to pay these now. The third payment is about £700 so might not necessarily be worth it
Hmmm, I see the same message about paying back before it potentially increases in April, but as far back as 2006-2007 (and the two proceeding years), so it appears I can still pay for these years whilst I was at university and presumably not earning enough to qualift as a full year. Two of these cost less than £200 each, so not much more than the current class 2 payment, so in theory it would make sense to pay these now. The third payment is about £700 so might not necessarily be worth it
#255
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 96
Re: Class 2 NI abolished. What about us poor expats paying voluntary contributio
Thats's what I was thinking in regards to the cheaper years - they're not too far off current class 2 which may or may not be abolished in the future. Looks like i'll be paying those over the next few days.
Thanks to those on this thread.
Now to start thinking about my work based pensions and what to do with them
Thanks to those on this thread.
Now to start thinking about my work based pensions and what to do with them