Pay Class 2 National Insurance if you do not pay through Self Assessment
If you work or live abroad
You may be able to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions if you’re either:
- living abroad but self-employed in the UK
- self-employed abroad and you’ve got a certificate of coverage from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to prove you do not need to pay social security contributions in the country you’re working in
The way Class 2 contributions are paid depends on how much profit you make.
If your profits are below £6,725
You can pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions to protect your National Insurance record.
You need to pay by making an online or telephone bank transfer.
If your profits are £6,725 or more
You do not need to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions because they are treated as having been paid. This means your National Insurance record is automatically protected.
How to qualify
For your Class 2 contributions to be treated as having been paid, you must provide either:
- formal profit and loss accounts
- 3-line accounts showing gross business takings or earnings, including any commission or tips, total expenses and net profit or loss figures
Send your accounts together with your full name, address and National Insurance number to:
Self-Employment Services
North East England
HMRC
BX9 1AN
The deadline for sending your accounts is 31 January following the end of the tax year for which the Class 2 contributions are being treated as paid.
What happens next
HMRC will send you a payment request by the end of October.
Call the self-employed helpline if you do not get one.