- on your P60 (a form you receive at the end of each tax year that shows how much tax you paid on your wage)
You can access your personal tax account on the internet. It displays a variety of helpful information, such as your National Insurance Number, the amount of tax you owe, and information regarding your State Pension. You can also obtain a tax refund and amend your address. On the HMRC website, you can register.
When you turn sixteen, you should receive your national insurance number in the mail. You can contact HMRC if you don’t receive it or can’t find it.
Can I get my NI number online?
If you’ve misplaced or forgotten your NI number, or if you require a letter confirming it, you can:
- To view or download, print, store, or share a letter with it on your personal tax account, register or log in.
- If you are unable to register for a personal tax account, fill out the online form and mail it to us.
Report the unusual phone call, email, or text to HMRC if you’re concerned about a suspected National Insurance number scam.
Can you work in Scotland without a National Insurance number?
If you live in the United Kingdom and have the legal right to work there, you can apply for a National Insurance number.
You must also be seeking for work in the UK or have a job offer. You can still apply if you’ve already begun working.
- own a biometric residency permit (BRP) with a printed National Insurance number
- are only requesting a National Insurance number in order to apply for benefits or a student loan
If you’re a UK resident aged 19 or under
If both of the following are true, you should receive a National Insurance number in the three months leading up to your 16th birthday.
If you have a BRP
If you have a BRP, you may already have a National Insurance number, which is printed on the back of your BRP.
If you plan to work, you must apply for a National Insurance number if you do not already have one. You can only apply if you are in the United Kingdom.
If you’re applying for benefits or a student loan
To apply for benefits or a student loan, you do not need a National Insurance number. If your application for benefits or a student loan is approved, you will receive one.
Can you work without a National Insurance number?
Employees must pay National Insurance contributions, and you must apply for a National Insurance number if you want to work. The National Insurance Number (NINO) is a one-of-a-kind number that will assist your employer in paying your NI obligations. This number cannot be used by anybody else.
Make your application for your NINO by calling Job Centre Plus at 0800 141 2075.
On the Gov.UK website, you can learn more about how to apply for your National Insurance number.
You don’t need a National Insurance number to begin working, but you will need one after you begin. While you wait for your permanent number, your employer will issue you a temporary number.
How long can you work in the UK without a National Insurance number?
In the United Kingdom, a National Insurance number (NINO) is used to uniquely identify you. It also guarantees that any NICs or taxes you pay are appropriately recorded on your HMRC account. In the tax basics section, you’ll find additional general information about NINOs. Because having a NINO does not guarantee that you have the right to work in the UK, you should expect your employer to do checks to confirm that you do. If they do not, they risk facing consequences.
A temporary (TN) NINO begins with the initials ‘TN,’ and you may have one if you have previously worked in the United Kingdom. HMRC will not accept TN numbers because they are no longer allowed to be used.
Expatriate personnel (those sent to the UK on assignment from another country) may be given numbers in the format 67 F5 76 88 to use as a reference in their HMRC file.
Where do I get a National Insurance number from?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues NINOs in England, Scotland, and Wales. The Department for Social Development (DSD) gives them to people who live in Northern Ireland.
GOV.UK has information on how to apply for a National Insurance number. You can now apply for a job and prove your identification online. If you are unable to confirm your identification online or by mail, you may be forced to attend an interview.
According to HMRC, obtaining a National Insurance number after proving your identification can take up to 16 weeks. If you haven’t heard anything about your NINO after 16 weeks, call the HMRC’s ‘Get help with your application’ 0800 helpline to check on the status of your application.
Do I need a National Insurance number to work in the UK?
If you plan to work, you need apply for a National Insurance number. This is so that HMRC can recognize the National Insurance and tax you may be obliged to pay on your wages. This is crucial, for example, if you need to claim benefits that are contingent on National Insurance being paid.
You do not, however, require a National Insurance number before beginning employment.
If you can verify your eligibility to work in the UK, you can start working in the UK without a National Insurance number. You should inform your employer that you have applied for one, and then hand it on to them when you obtain it. There is no time limit on this game.
In order for your company to add you to the payroll, you should also complete the Starter Checklist. You should leave the NINO area blank if you do not have a NINO. It is critical to correctly complete the Starter Checklist.
You should give your NINO to your employer as soon as possible after receiving it. This will be sent to HMRC via your employer’s payroll submission. HMRC should then be able to link your new NINO to the tax and NIC you’ve already paid through payroll.
If you are self-employed, you must normally register to file a Self Assessment tax return (through which you pay your tax and National Insurance) by the 5th of October following the tax year in which you began working for yourself. For example, if you begin self-employment in the fiscal year 2021/22, you must register by October 5, 2022. When you register, you will be asked for your National Insurance number.
It’s critical to ensure that you’re truly self-employed you or your employer can’t just decide that you’re self-employed because it’s an issue of fact that depends on your specific circumstances. If you are truly self-employed, you can learn more about your tax and NIC responsibilities here.
If you’re starting your own business, you’ll usually need to fill out Form CWF1. However, if you don’t have a National Insurance number by this time due to a delay in processing your application, you can still register for Self Assessment by filling out form SA1 (rather than form CWF1) and explaining why you don’t have one in the relevant area. Once you receive a National Insurance number, you must notify HMRC separately of any Class 2 National Insurance liability by calling 0300 200 3500. If you don’t, HMRC’s computers may reject the Class 2 National Insurance you paid as part of your Self Assessment liability, affecting your welfare payments and future state pension eligibility.
If you live in Northern Ireland, NIDirect can provide you with more information as well as the phone numbers for the National Insurance local processing centers.
Can I claim benefits without a National Insurance number?
If you do not already have a National Insurance number, you can get one from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If you file a benefit claim and do not have a National Insurance number, our belief is that you will be required to apply for one. If you are unable to finish the application, the benefit may still be paid if the DWP can verify your identification.
Can I apply for a student loan without a National Insurance number?
When applying for a student loan, you must normally supply your National Insurance number. If you are an EU student, the only exemption is that you do not need to supply a National Insurance number if you do not have one.
What is a National Insurance interview?
As part of your application, you may be required to attend a face-to-face meeting (interview). The goal of the interview, which is normally one-on-one (unless an interpreter is required), is to determine why you need a NINO and whether you can get one. The DWP will also need to verify your identity, and HMRC may require this section of the interview (also known as a ‘proof of identity interview’) for benefits such as tax credits and child benefit.
The interviewer will inquire about your background and circumstances, as well as demand to see all of your official documents, including your passport and any other proof of identity documents, such as a national identity card, residence permit, birth certificate, driver’s license, marriage or civil partnership certificate. You should bring the original documents to the interview with you.
Following the interview, Jobcentre Plus will write to you to let you know if your application was successful. They will send you a NINO if it was successful. Because plastic NINO cards are no longer issued, it is critical to maintain the letter as a reminder of the number.
Who needs to know my National Insurance number?
In the tax basics section, there is a list of people who might need to know your NINO.
It is critical that you do not reveal your NINO to anybody who does not require it. You should keep your NINO as private as possible.
Can you get your NI number over the phone?
Plastic NI cards are no longer issued by HM Revenue & Customs. If you’ve misplaced or forgotten your NI number, it can be found on your payslip, P60, or any HMRC tax, pensions, or benefits correspondence. If you’ve registered for one, you can also access it through your personal tax account.
If you are unable to open a personal tax account and are still unable to locate your NI number, you may:
- Fill out and return form CA5403 to HMRC, together with two forms of identification.
HMRC will not give you your National Insurance number over the phone; instead, you will get it in the mail.
How can I find my NI number quickly?
If you don’t know your National Insurance number, you can look it up quickly and easily online using your personal tax account. On a paper, look for your National Insurance number.
Date of licence issue (4a), expiry (4b), issuing authority (4)
The photocard was issued on the date indicated in 4a. The expiration date of the driver’s license is shown in 4b. 4c shows the authority that issued the license. This is known as DVA in Northern Ireland.
Holder’s photograph (6 not numbered)
A black and white photo appears on the new photocard license. This is due to the more secure laser technology used to burn the image onto the card, resulting in a black and white photo. To be kept on your driver record, you must still submit a color photo with your application.
Entitlement categories (9)
The capital letters denote the several types of entitlements covered under the European Community Directive. In smaller letters, national categories are displayed.
Can I work while waiting for NI number?
Contact the National Insurance application service at 0800 141 2075 to apply for an NI number. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., lines are open. When you call, you must have your home postcode.
When you call, you will either be invited to a ‘proof of identification’ interview at your local Job Centre Plus or a postal application will be delivered to you. If you’re called in for an interview, make sure you know what documents you’ll need to bring: it’s usually a collection of original documents like your passport, national identity card, birth certificate, or driver’s license. International students may be required to show proof of enrollment at QMUL. If you need proof of enrollment, go to:
If you’re seeking for work or already have a job, you may be asked to submit proof of your employment, such as job applications or a letter from your boss. You may have to wait up to 12 weeks for your NI number to arrive in the mail, but you can work and earn money while you wait.
How do you get a Nino letter?
Depending on your responses, you may be required to send additional papers to HMRC to verify your identification. If you need to email additional papers, it will tell you once you finish out the form.