Key takeaways
- Voluntary contributions cost £18.40 a week (Class 3) or £3.65 a week (Class 2, for some self-employed people) in 2026/27.
- A full year of Class 3 costs £956.80 and can add about £6.89 a week, or roughly £358 a year, to a new State Pension.
- You can normally fill gaps from the last six tax years, with a deadline of 5 April each year.
- Check your State Pension forecast first: extra years only help if you are short of the full amount.
- From 6 April 2026, voluntary Class 2 cannot be paid for time abroad and Class 3 abroad needs 10 years of UK residence or contributions.
Gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record can reduce your State Pension. Paying voluntary contributions to fill them is often one of the best-value financial decisions available, but only when the extra years will actually increase your pension. This guide shows how to check, what it costs and the deadlines.
Why gaps matter
To get the full new State Pension, £241.30 a week in 2026/27, most people need 35 qualifying years on their NI record. You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension at all. Each qualifying year adds roughly 1/35 of the full amount.
You might have gaps because you:
- were employed but earned less than the Lower Earnings Limit (£129 a week in 2026/27)
- were self-employed with low profits
- lived or worked abroad
- were not working and did not get National Insurance credits, for example while caring or between jobs
How to check your record
- Get your State Pension forecast through GOV.UK or the HMRC app. It shows how much you are on course for and whether you can still reach the full amount.
- Check your NI record, which lists each tax year as full or with a gap, and shows the cost of filling eligible gaps.
- Before paying, make sure the forecast confirms the extra year would increase your pension. Some years cannot increase it, for example if you will reach 35 years before State Pension age anyway.
People who were contracted out of the old additional State Pension before 2016 may need more than 35 years to reach the full rate, and their forecast will show this.
What it costs in 2026/27
| Class | Weekly rate | Full year | Who can pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | £18.40 | £956.80 | Anyone with gaps who meets the conditions |
| Class 2 | £3.65 | £189.80 | Self-employed people with profits below £7,105, and some others |
You usually pay the current rate. Class 3 for the previous two tax years, and Class 2 for the previous tax year, are charged at the original rates for those years; older years are charged at the 2026/27 rate.
Is it worth it?
An extra qualifying year adds about £6.89 a week to a new State Pension (£241.30 ÷ 35), roughly £358 a year. At the Class 3 cost of £956.80, you get your money back in under three years of drawing the pension, and the increase rises each year with the State Pension. For most people with a genuine shortfall it is excellent value.
It may not be worth paying if:
- your forecast shows you will reach the maximum anyway through future work or credits
- you expect to claim Pension Credit, which could fall by the same amount your State Pension rises
- you are entitled to credits for the year instead, for example for caring or claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12
Deadlines
You can normally pay voluntary contributions for the past six tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year:
| Gap in tax year | Pay by |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 5 April 2027 |
| 2021/22 | 5 April 2028 |
| 2022/23 | 5 April 2029 |
| 2025/26 | 5 April 2032 |
A temporary extension that allowed people to fill gaps back to 2006/07 ended on 5 April 2025. Older gaps can no longer be filled in most cases.
How to pay
- Online: if you can see your NI record online, you can often pay through the same service, by debit card or bank transfer.
- By bank transfer or Direct Debit: Class 3 uses an 18-digit reference that HMRC gives you, which identifies the year you are paying for.
- Class 2 for the self-employed: through your Self Assessment return, where you can choose to pay Class 2 with your tax bill.
Allow time for payments to show on your record before relying on the new forecast.
If you live or have lived abroad
The rules tightened from 6 April 2026:
- you cannot pay voluntary Class 2 for time spent abroad
- to pay Class 3 for time abroad after 5 April 2026 you must have lived in the UK for 10 years in a row, or have paid 10 years of qualifying contributions in total, or have paid Class 1 or 2 while working abroad under a social security agreement
Earlier years abroad follow the previous rules, which required three years of UK residence or contributions. Apply to HMRC before paying, and check how the State Pension is uprated in the country where you will live, as it is frozen in some countries.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a year of voluntary National Insurance cost?
£956.80 for a full year of Class 3 at £18.40 a week in 2026/27. Self-employed people with low profits may be able to pay Class 2 at £3.65 a week instead, £189.80 a year.
How far back can I pay voluntary National Insurance?
Normally six tax years. Gaps in 2020/21 must be paid by 5 April 2027.
How much State Pension does one extra year add?
About 1/35 of the full new State Pension: roughly £6.89 a week, or £358 a year, in 2026/27.
Should I pay voluntary contributions if I am close to State Pension age?
Possibly, if your forecast shows a shortfall that you cannot make up through work or credits before you reach State Pension age. Check the forecast first, and check how it would affect any Pension Credit.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance in October 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.