HM Revenue and Customs has reminded people that they can quickly access their National Insurance number through the HMRC app and save it securely to a digital wallet, avoiding the need to search through old paperwork.
HMRC Points People to a Faster Way to Find Their NI Number
A National Insurance (NI) number stays with a person throughout their life and plays a central role in the UK’s tax, employment and benefits systems. It follows a standard format of two letters, six numbers and a final letter, but it should not be treated as proof of identity.
According to Birmingham Live, HMRC has highlighted the digital tools available to people who need to locate their number, with the tax authority directing users toward its official app.
In an update posted on X, formerly Twitter, HMRC reminded people of how they can locate their National Insurance number “easily”. The post reads: “Your National Insurance number is just a tap away. Keep it secure and download it to your digital wallet. Download the app today to quickly view your National Insurance.”
The feature gives people another way to keep the number accessible without relying on a physical letter or attempting to obtain it through HMRC’s telephone or webchat services.
Your National Insurance number is just a tap away. 📱 
— HM Revenue & Customs (@HMRCgovuk) September 23, 2026
Keep it secure and download it to your digital wallet.
Download the app today to quickly view your National Insurance.  https://t.co/CrJpO9yWDQ pic.twitter.com/kPIOvGRkF7
Who Needs a National Insurance Number?
People who want to work in the UK need a National Insurance number. Those applying for one must generally be aged 16 or over and live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
A person can begin working before receiving the number. If they do not already have one, they must apply when they are working or intend to work.
The number allows tax and National Insurance contributions to be recorded against the correct individual. Despite its importance for official records, a National Insurance number is not a form of identification, so it should not be presented as though it were an identity document.
Keeping the number secure also matters because it is a piece of personal information that can appear across employment and tax records.
The HMRC App Does More Than Display Your Number
The HMRC app is not limited to National Insurance information. It provides access to a range of personal tax services and records that would otherwise require users to navigate different parts of their HMRC account.
People can use it to check their tax code, view their Annual Tax Summary and access their employment history. Self Assessment users can also find their Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR).
For National Insurance specifically, the app can help users review their record and identify gaps. Those gaps can matter when someone wants to understand their contribution history or check the information HMRC holds about them.
The app also allows people to update certain personal details, including their name or address, and manage how HMRC communicates with them. Correspondence submitted to HMRC can be tracked through the service as well.
That turns the app into more than a digital location for an NI number. It provides a single point of access for several routine interactions with the tax authority.
Payments, Refunds and Take-Home Pay Are Available Through the App
HMRC’s digital services also cover common financial tasks.
Users can make certain payments, create payment reminders and contact HMRC through available channels. The app includes tools for estimating take-home pay, giving workers a way to see how deductions may affect what reaches their bank account.
People who have paid too much tax may also be able to use HMRC’s services to claim a tax refund. Having tax records, employment information and National Insurance details accessible from the same official app can reduce the need to locate separate documents when checking personal records.
The ability to save National Insurance details to a digital wallet is particularly useful for people who need quick access to the number when dealing with employment or administrative paperwork. HMRC’s message also explicitly tells users to keep the information secure.
