Yes, another post for the forum on voluntary contributions….

I went to my banks website yesterday to make payments for the last few years NI contributions, Chase bank if it helps. I used the information from gov.uk for paying from an overseas account - copied below. However Chase insisted on requiring a Sort Code as part of the information. There’s a Sort Code listed on the gov.uk site but only for paying from a UK account. Has anyone faced this issue before and know what code needs to be used ?

I’m planning calling the helpline in the UK next week but thought I’d reach out here first.

Cheers
Alan.

Paying from an overseas bank account

You can pay from an overseas account if you live or work abroad temporarily.

Use the following details:

• account number (IBAN) - GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93
• Bank Identifier Code (BIC) - BARCGB22
• account name - HMRC NIC receipts

Hi,
At the beginning of September I used the following to pay for voluntary NI contributions, which is exactly what you have. I went to the US bank that I have an account at and the teller helped me with the transfer, rather than try to do it online. Note, what I also needed was a physical address for HMRC, I used the address that is for Couriers. I called HMRC a week or so later and was told that they had received it. No sort code needed.

• account number (IBAN) - GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93
• Bank Identifier Code (BIC) - BARCGB22
• account name - HMRC NIC receipts

Note, the courier address I used was: HM Revenue and Customs, BP8002, Benton Park View, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE98 1ZZ, United Kingdom

Use Wise.com. Simpler, less hassle, less fees & instant payment..

+1

If anyone’s interested, Sort Code was derived from the IBAN number and is 20 20 48. HRMC confirmed receipt of the funds when I called them today.

This allowed me to pay in the receivers currency, i.e. pounds. Otherwise I would have had to pay in dollars and be subject to the whims of currency variations. Might be useful for someone.

Sorry I missed your question at the time - yes, the Sort Code is the sort code, always, and is part of the IBAN number, which is assemble from: [1] a country code + [2] sort code (or whatever the country calls it) + [3] the account number, and given that I don't understand why all countries haven't implemented IBANs as they are just assembled from existing numbers, all you need is a country code.

And I suspect that your issue with Chase needing a Sort Code was a result of Chase having a substantial London presence and routing the payment through its London office as a domestic payment, not an international one.