5 April 2023 is the deadline to ensure voluntary payments of any shortfalls of national insurance contributions (“NICs”) for the tax year up to 2016/17 are made to protect maximum entitlement to the UK state pension. In some cases it is possible to go back to 2006/07 and make voluntary contributions. Note that from 6 April 2023 it will only be possible to go back six years in future.
In order to get a full basic state pension, an individual must have paid sufficient NICs for a minimum number of qualifying years in their working life. See the State pension guidance note for more information.