How to pay your National Insurance contributions via internet banking

I went online to pay my National Insurance contributions and HSBC require I use the predefined organisation list but I ended up calling the helpline as HSBC present you with a confusing list of options and I didn’t want to pay it into the wrong account.

So, in simple steps which doesn’t state the obvious:

1. Make a payment
2. Pay a bill or organisation
3. HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS
4. Select a payee: HMRC NIC QUARTERLY
5. Payee’s reference: 18 digit number on your NIC bill

The part I got stuck on was choosing a payee and there were two NIC options. A quick call to the hotline (I waited longer on hold longer than I spent on the call) confirmed that I should use “HMRC NIC QUARTERLY”.

Clear as mud?

19 May 2010