Last updated: 14 October 2026
How do you top up your National Insurance record online?
Check your record first using the “Check your State Pension forecast” service or your National Insurance record in the HMRC app or personal tax account. If you have gaps, the service shows which years you can fill and the cost. You can then pay voluntary Class 3 contributions online, by bank transfer using the reference HMRC gives you, or through the HMRC app. For 2026/27, Class 3 costs £18.40 a week, £956.80 for a full year. You can normally fill gaps from the past 6 tax years; the special extension that allowed gaps back to 2006/07 ended on 5 April 2025. If you pay for either of the previous 2 tax years, you pay that year’s original rate.
Is it worth it?
| Cost to fill one year (Class 3, 2026/27 rate) | Extra State Pension per year | Payback period |
| £956.80 | About £358 (1/35 of the full new State Pension of £12,547.60) | About 2.7 years |
The full new State Pension for 2026/27 is £241.30 a week. You usually need 35 qualifying years for the full amount and at least 10 for any pension.
Before you pay
- Check you’ll actually benefit: some years may already be covered by credits
- If you were contracted out before 2016, you may need more years
- If you’re close to State Pension age, check whether future working years will fill gaps anyway
- Use the online service, which tells you if paying will increase your pension
Class 2 or Class 3?
Self-employed people with low profits used to pay voluntary Class 2, which was cheaper. Class 2 was abolished for most from April 2024, but those with profits below the small profits threshold can still pay it voluntarily at £3.65 a week in 2026/27 to protect their record.
Example
Rachel, 58, has 30 qualifying years and a forecast of £10,756 a year. The service shows 4 gaps she can fill. She pays £956.80 for one year online and her forecast rises by about £358 a year. She fills all 4 years for £3,827, increasing her pension by about £1,434 a year for life.
Changes from April 2026
From 6 April 2026, people living abroad can no longer pay cheap Class 2 contributions to fill gaps, and need to have lived or worked in the UK for at least 10 years to pay voluntary NIC. Check the rules if you live overseas.
Common mistakes
- Paying for years that won’t increase the pension
- Missing the deadline for older years
- Using the wrong reference
- Not checking credits for childcare or caring
Records to keep
Keep the online confirmation and the reference used. Allow a few weeks for the record to update.
How long it takes to update
If you pay online through the State Pension forecast service, your record usually updates within 5 working days. Other payment methods can take up to 8 weeks, and payments from abroad may take longer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay by card?
Yes, online.
Are voluntary contributions tax-deductible?
No.
Can someone else pay for me?
Yes, using your reference.
Do I get a refund if it doesn’t help?
Contact HMRC; refunds may be possible.
Related: paying tax on the State Pension, who the granny tax affects and whether you need a tax return.
Talk to Accotax
Want this handled for you? Our team at Accotax can help with State Pension and NIC planning. See our tax refund accountants service, or contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.
This page is general guidance based on HMRC rules for the 2026/27 tax year, checked against gov.uk on 14 October 2026. It is not personal advice, so speak to an accountant about your own situation.
