The Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001

Class 2 and Class 3 contributions paid late through ignorance or error

65.—(1) This regulation applies to any Class 2 or Class 3 contribution which would when paid fall to be computed at a rate or, as the case may be, an amount other than that applicable in the contribution year in accordance with section 12(3) or 13(6) of the Act.

(2) Where—

(a) it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that, by reason of ignorance or error on the part of the earner, not being ignorance or error due to any failure on his part to exercise due care and diligence, he has failed to pay a Class 2 contribution to which this regulation applies for any period on or by the due date; and

(b) payment of that contribution is made in a year later than that in which the period commenced;

the amount of that contribution shall be calculated by reference to the weekly rate at which a contribution paid under section 12 of the Act would have been payable if it had been paid at the time when the period began.

(3) Where a Class 3 contribution would otherwise fall to be calculated in accordance with section 13(6) of the Act, but it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that the contributor has not paid that contribution before the end of the second year following the contribution year by reason of ignorance or error on the part of the earner, not being ignorance or error due to any failure on his part to exercise due care and diligence, the amount of that contribution shall be computed by reference to the amount of such a contribution applicable to the period for which the contribution is paid.

(4) Where—

(a) a Class 3 contribution would when paid fall to be computed in accordance with section 13(6) of the Act,

(b) such a contribution remains unpaid for a period commencing at any time after the end of the second year following the contribution year (“the relevant period”), and

(c) it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that the contributor has not, during the relevant period only, paid such a contribution by reason of ignorance or error not being ignorance or error due to any failure on the contributor’s part to exercise due care and diligence,

paragraph (5) applies.

(5) If this paragraph applies to a contribution, the amount of that contribution shall be calculated in accordance with section 13(6) of the Act as if the contribution had been paid at the time when the relevant period commenced.