HMRC advise to check NI pension gaps before deadline

HMRC are advising people that they should check their NI contributions towards their pensions to ensure that they don't fall short. They have put a deadline on when gaps can be filled between 2006 and 2016.

You can check your National Insurance record and State Pension forecast through your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK. If there are gaps, it may be possible to make voluntary contributions to top them up — but only within the allowed window.

Don't leave it until the last minute; demand on HMRC's phone lines tends to spike near the deadline. If you'd like help working out whether topping up makes financial sense for you, get in touch.