Martin Lewis and a panel of experts, addressed the nation's top tax concerns this week on the Not the Martin Lewis Podcast. Joined by Rebecca Benneyworth, hailed as a "tax deity", they tackled an unusual query from a viewer about the impending National Insurance reduction.

Discussing the voluntary National Insurance system, Rebecca advised Brits intending to top up their National Insurance record to do so before January 31.

She clarified: "Otherwise you miss the cut-off and you won't get that year's pension credit.

"That's really really important. Sometimes people (say); 'Oh no can't get around to it, it's only a little bit of interest' but that is the absolutely crucial date."

In April, National Insurance contributions were reduced by two percentage points, with class one falling from 10% to 8% and class 4, or the self-employed National Insurance, dropping to 6%.

Overall, these changes have enabled Brits to retain more of their income due to a lower tax rate.

However, a question arose from Martin's listener regarding whether this would also be reflected in the rates for those purchasing their National Insurance credits.

These credits are essential for accessing state pension and Pension Credit benefits. Brits require a minimum of 35 qualifying years of National Insurance credits and can purchase voluntary class three or class two credits to fill any gaps in their record.

A listener raised a concern: "With the lowering of the National Insurance rate, those of us with missing National Insurance years or who will have in the future, will it cost less to buy those missing years?"

Kari Mellon, Opes Tax founder, confirmed that despite the tax reduction, the price for class three voluntary National Insurance credits remains unchanged, and Rebecca concurred, stating: "No it hasn't, it's a flat £15 something.

"Martin highlighted that Britons typically spend around £800 annually on voluntary National Insurance credits and expressed his irritation with the system's flaws.

He discussed an obsolete type of National Insurance, now replaced by class four credits, remarking: "The corollary of this is class two, which many people no longer have to pay, which is if you're self-employed it too was a £3 a week type charge. "He added, "If you still want to pay that on a voluntary basis you can pay that £3 a week even though those who had to compulsory pay it don't pay it any more, reports the Mirror.

" Rebecca frowned upon the system's illogical nature, labelling it a "perverse system".