Skip to main content
G

Grady Ebert

Feb 16, 2025

What is the difference between a NHS number and a National Insurance number in the UK?

I recently relocated to England from the United States, and both my husband and I have registered with a local doctor. I am here on a work permit, while he is here as a dependent on my work permit. He has not yet found employment. I completed a form at my job for a fast-track application for a National Insurance (NI) number, and I was informed that once my NI number arrives, I would no longer be subject to emergency tax.

I received my NHS medical card in the mail, which includes my NHS number. However, my employer has stated that they need my National Insurance number for tax purposes. My husband also registered with the same medical practice but did not receive his NHS medical card. This situation has left me confused.

I initially assumed that the NHS medical card I received was the result of my fast-tracked National Insurance application, especially since my husband did not receive one. The NHS number on my card consists of ten digits: xxx xxx xxxx. However, the payroll department at my job mentioned that the number they require contains letters as well.

Additionally, once my National Insurance number arrives, how quickly can I expect to be removed from emergency tax? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

9 Answers

A
Anonymous

Feb 10, 2025

Your NHS number is required only when you need to register with a GP and sometimes a dentist.

Your National Insurance (NI) number is more important. It is considered your unique form of identity in this country – your employer will definitely need it so that any NI contributions can be deducted from your salary and, should you need to claim any benefits, then you will need it then. It is normally something like AB 12 34 56 and will be filled in like this on any forms. The Inland Revenue will require this number for identification also.

So they are totally different numbers – everyone of working age has a NI number and will normally have access to it (normally on a card which is sent to you).

Not everyone knows their NHS number although this is allocated when registered at birth!! Also, the NHS number format has recently changed so the number on a birth certificate may be different to that on the medical card.

Hope this helps

A
Anonymous

Feb 18, 2025

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

What is the difference between a NHS number and a National Insurance number in the UK?

I recently relocated to England from the States. I registered with a doctor, as did my husband. I am here on a work permit position, and he is here as a work permit dependant. He has not found work yet. I filled out a form at my job that was submitted as a fast-track application for a National…

A
Anonymous

Jan 27, 2025

an nhs number which stands for national health service is a number we are given to identify the us when we use the nhs like a medical card at the doctors etc and a national insurance card is what we use to be able to work its to do with tax purposes

A
Anonymous

Feb 20, 2025

NHS number is the number on your medical card and has nothing to do with your national insurance number, which has nothing to do with income tax!

So, your NHS number will be required if you need medical treatment, the national insurance number is the number on your payslip which determines your national insurance contribution which is worked out from your salary. This is the money that goes to the National Health Service so we dont have to pay for medical treatment.

You are on emergency tax code because your employer doesn’t know how much you have earned to this point in the tax year and providing your not on basic rate tax you are in fact paying the right amount of tax. If you are on basic rate, you need to talk to your tax office (your employer can tell you which one it is) and they will give you your corrected tax code and then any overpaid tax will be refunded

your national insurance number is used for your employer to pay tax on your earnings.

your NHS number is a number that is used by your doctor and the hospital to identify you as a patient in the NHS

Neither has anything to do with the other

M
Micaela Kunde

Feb 04, 2025

National Insurance number is for your employer to pay tax on your earnings.

once you receive this number it takes approximately 4 weeks to come off basic rate tax.

your NHS number is for any medical needs, so that you can be identified as a patient. if you do not get one then you will have to pay for your medical care.

Your tax situation doesn’t depend on your NI number. HMRC can give you a temporary number until you get your proper one. You will need to submit a form P86, as you have come here from abroad, to establish your residency status. Download from www.hmrc/p86. Your NI number will be your tax office reference, and will enable tabs to be kept on your National Insurance contributions to see what your benefits and pension entitlements are.

Your National Health number registers you in the British National Health Service, and is nothing to do with your NI nimber.

A
Anonymous

Feb 03, 2025

y would u move to the uk its a s**t hole here

Want to answer this question?

Join our community to share your knowledge!

Related Questions

10
how can i talk without showing my teeth?

I really dislike my teeth. When I lived with my dad, he never seemed to care much about me; he didn’t pay for me to go t...

10
On a U.S. Nuclear submarine, is the Xo higher ranked than the Captain?

I was watching the movie "Crimson Tide" and became curious about the ranks within a U.S. nuclear submarine. Specifically...

10
The mcculloch v. maryland supreme court case firmly established that

What principle was firmly established by the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland? a. State governments can overrule...

4
Isn’t it odd the KKK is retweeting Trump, Jeff Sessions, and Steve King with a stunning alacrity yet for some reason liberals are the?

Why is the Ku Klux Klan retweeting Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions, and Steve King so frequently, yet somehow liberals are b...

1
What happened to Raab's wife?

What happened to Raab's wife? Could you provide more context or details about the situation you are referring to? Thank...

8
Does Wells Fargo Bank open on Sundays?

Does Wells Fargo Bank open on Sundays in Bakersfield, California, specifically at the intersection of White Lane and Gos...

10
should adults drink pediasure?

Should an 18-year-old female, who is 5'5" tall and weighs 110 lbs, and is not malnourished, consider drinking Pediasure?...

1
Present and future values for different interest rates find the following values. compounding/discounting occurs annually. round your

Please find below the present and future values for different interest rates. Compounding and discounting occur annually...

5
What is a bank account nickname?

I’m trying to make my car payment online, and it’s asking for a bank account nickname. What does that mean, and what sho...

3
Why do all shareholders agree on the same goal for the financial​ manager? ?

What is the reason that all shareholders tend to agree on a common goal for the financial manager?