This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
This article has been viewed 38,552 times.
If you live and work in the United Kingdom, you'll need a National Insurance (NI) number. This number ensures that the taxes you pay throughout the year are recorded against your name. The number consists of 2 letters, 6 numbers, and 1 letter at the end (e.g., AC654321C). If you didn't receive an NI number automatically, you just have to call HM Revenue and Customs (the department responsible for collecting taxes) in order to apply for one. There are also a few different ways you can easily retrieve your number if you lost it. Note that your NI number is no longer printed on a government-issued card, so be sure to write it down and store it in a safe place!