How to find your National Insurance number
Find your National Insurance number on documents or online, recover a lost number and get a letter confirming it.
In one sentence
You can find your National Insurance number on a payslip, P60 or HMRC letter, in the HMRC app or in your personal tax account.
Quick answer
- Check your payslip, P60, P45 or letters about tax, pensions or benefits.
- Find your number online in the HMRC app or your personal tax account.
- Download a confirmation letter if you need proof of your NI number.
- HMRC cannot give your number over the phone or on webchat.
What is a National Insurance number?
Your National Insurance number is your personal reference for National Insurance contributions and tax. It links payments to your record and stays yours for life.
It has two letters, six numbers and a final letter, for example QQ 12 34 56 C. It is also called a NINO or NI number.
How to find your National Insurance number
Check these documents and online accounts if you need to find your NI number in the UK.
1. Payslip
Look for a field labelled National Insurance number or NI number on your payslip. Check a recent or older payslip if you have one.
2. P60 (and P45)
Your P60 shows your pay and tax for the year. Look in the employee details for your NI number. You can also check the P45 from a job you have left.
3. Letters about tax, pensions or benefits
Check letters from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Your number may appear on tax, pension or benefit letters.
4. HMRC app (if you live in the UK)
Sign in to the HMRC app to view your number. You can save it to Apple or Google Wallet so it is easier to find next time.
5. Personal tax account on GOV.UK
Sign in to your personal tax account on GOV.UK to find your National Insurance number online.
Lost or forgotten your National Insurance number?
Check the documents and accounts above first. You do not need a new number if you have lost or forgotten yours.
GOV.UK has an online checker that shows where to look or how to ask HMRC for your number. If HMRC sends it by post, it goes to the address it holds for you.
HMRC will not give your number over the phone or on webchat.
How to get proof of your National Insurance number
You can download a letter confirming your number from the HMRC app or your personal tax account. An employer or landlord may ask for it.
The old plastic NI card is no longer issued and is not proof on its own. Use the confirmation letter when you need evidence of your number.
When do you get your National Insurance number?
If you live in the UK, you are normally sent your number shortly before your 16th birthday. This normally happens where a parent or guardian has completed a Child Benefit claim form for you.
If you moved to the UK, you may already have a number if you have worked or claimed benefits here. Otherwise, you can apply for a National Insurance number if you meet the eligibility conditions.
You can start work before your number arrives if you can prove your right to work in the UK.
Can I check or verify a National Insurance number?
You can check your own number in the HMRC app or your personal tax account. There is no public lookup for someone else's number.
Employers can check new starters' numbers through payroll software using HMRC's NINO verification request under Real Time Information (RTI). This checks the payroll details against HMRC records.
National Insurance number vs UTR vs payroll number
| Identifier | Format example | Who issues it | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NI number | QQ 12 34 56 C | HMRC | Your NI and tax record for life |
| UTR | 10 digits | HMRC | Self Assessment / company tax |
| Payroll number | Varies | Your employer | Your job on that employer's payroll |
Need help with Self Assessment or your tax record?
Book a 30-minute call with our team. We register you for Self Assessment, check your tax record and file your return on time.
Book a call →Frequently asked questions
Lost or forgotten your National Insurance number?
Check your payslips, P60 and letters first. The GOV.UK checker shows where to look or how to ask HMRC for it by post to the address it holds for you. HMRC cannot give your number over the phone or on webchat.
How to get proof of your National Insurance number
Download a letter confirming your number from the HMRC app or your personal tax account. The old plastic NI card is no longer issued and is not proof on its own.
When do you get your National Insurance number?
If you live in the UK, it is normally sent shortly before your 16th birthday where a parent or guardian has completed a Child Benefit claim form for you. If you moved to the UK, check whether you already have one before applying.
Can I check or verify a National Insurance number?
Check your own number in the HMRC app or your personal tax account. There is no public lookup for another person. Employers can use a NINO verification request through payroll software under RTI.
How to find your National Insurance number
Look on your payslip, P60, P45 or letters about tax, pensions or benefits. You can also find it in the HMRC app if you live in the UK, or in your personal tax account on GOV.UK.
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