NI numbers

[Edamski]

So I woke up this afternoon with a letter from my employer informing me that HMRC had told them of a change in my NI number.

Now had anyone heard of this happening as I thought your NI was for life.

Secondly why has my employer told me and not HMRC?

[Maxsi]

Your NI number should never change, call HMRC ASAP

[Edamski]

The more I think of this the more I think something is wrong here... (apart from the obvious)


May also explain why they seemed to have taken ?150 more in PAYE from me this month than normal...

[wolfie]

Your National Insurance number

Your National Insurance number is your own personal account number. The number makes sure that the National Insurance contributions and tax you pay are properly recorded on your account. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system.
Every National Insurance number is different. It's made up of letters and numbers like this:
QQ 12 34 56 A.
(Please note that this National Insurance number is just an example and should not be used as your own number).
Your National Insurance number never changes even if you go abroad, marry, register as a civil partner, change your name, etc.
Your entitlement to many state benefits depends on your National Insurance contribution record (see the section below 'State benefits that depend on National Insurance contributions').
If you don't have a National Insurance number, you can apply to get one.

[Maxsi]

Your NI number can be used in identity theft counting towards proof of identity but mainly by immigrants wanting to work illegally.

[Edamski]

See stuff like all of that gets me thinking why, because the number has literally changed one digit. A 9 to a 5

[cj121]

How weird. Sounds like something's wrong or someone's made a mistake. Get onto it pronto ay.


🙈 🙉 🙊

[tommy]

It could be a scam, I've had so many Phishing emails this summer it's not funny! Fake PxxPal, fake HMRC it's getting silly. They're easy to spot as the wording is always wrong and the requests are always things that wouldn't happen. The reason I bring it up is that I immediately thought of this when I say your thread, its possible there may be some scam that would benefit another person, the fact that your contributions went up too makes me think that someone is trying to use your NI Number to pay lower contributions. I'm just speculating but its a possibility, I know you will but contact your employer and HMRC asap.
It's also possible someone screwed up some firm or other. Its tax time and lots of forms to be filled in by Finance Dept.

[groundhog]

It's a cock up for sure.
Your NI number is with you for life - that's how you get your state pension. It will never, ever change.
Your tax code, however, can change, which can give an increase in PAYE tax due - have they (your employer) got mixed up and could it be that?
Have you had a recent coding notice from HMRC at all?

[tippexx]

PLEASE.

Get this through your heads.

Pension Providers, Banks, HMRC and Dept. of Pensions do NOT send e-mails .... they write Letters.

Any e-mail suggesting it comes from any of the above is a FAKE, also check when you log in to any site be it your Bank or HMRC etc that you are logging in to the genuine one, and not something designed to look like the authentic site. Always look for //https at the front of the URL .... the s means secure.

[tippexx]

Your NI number should never change, call HMRC ASAP

Absolutely 100% correct. It's a unique number and is yours from birth till death and cannot be changed.

[tommy]

Tippy, there is an increase in these phishing emails this year too. I don't see how they get anyone to fall for it but they must do or they wouldn't do this. They're tenacious too, sending multiple emails. I forward PxxPal ones to them but just delete the rest without opening them. It's shocking that people fall for:
If you don't fill in the form you account is blocked! Such a well written document.

[monkey66]

If it on email it is a scam. If it is a letter (so far you said 'letter' I think) contact your employer to find out why they have messed up /been scammed.

[Sean]

Ye thats weird ed i would deffo look into it

[groundhog]

A change of your NI number would be a cock up - but an increase in your PAYE tax would HAVE to come with a coding notice.
I think someone in your finance department has seriously cocked up.
Get in touch with the NI helpline on 03002003502 and they will be able to confirm your number.
The more I think about it, the more I think that an office junior has dropped a bollock and confused themselves.
Have any of your personal circumstance changed that might warrant a change in tax code?