If you’ve been paying voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions while working overseas, you can now get a refund.
Being employed or self-employed means you should have been paying Class 2 (much cheaper).
I got this email recently.
It was quietly published but refunds are now on the table for many people who’ve been contributing more than they should have.
If you’ve been online to check your NI record, you’ll have seen Class 3 voluntary costs (below) and may have paid them thinking there was no other option.
Class 2 contributions cost about 150 quid in comparison.
If you’ve been working and contributing voluntarily, get a refund now.