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The Pension (Non-Taxable Payments Following Death) (Real Time Information) Regulations 2021

S.I. 2021/506 · Made 26 April 2021 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 18 November 2024.

Income Tax

Made 26th April 2021

Laid before the House of Commons 27th April 2021

Coming into force 6th April 2022

The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 132 of the Finance Act 1999f1, section 135 of the Finance Act 2002f2 and section 251(1), (2)(a), (b) and (d) and (6) of the Finance Act 2004f3.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1999 c. 16. Section 132 was amended by paragraph 156 of Schedule 17 to the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21) and article 6(2)(b) of S.I. 2011/1043.

f2

2002 c. 23. Section 135 was amended by paragraph 95(1) of Schedule 4 to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), section 93(2) and (3) of the Finance Act 2007 (c. 11) and article 6(2)(b) of S.I. 2011/1043.

f3

2004 c. 12.

Contents

  1. Part 1: Introduction
  2. 1Citation and commencement
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 3Relevant payments
  5. Part 2: Real time returns
  6. 4Real time returns of information about relevant payments
  7. 5Returns under regulation 4: amendments
  8. 6Failure to make a return under regulation 4
  9. 7Penalty: failure to comply with regulation 4
  10. Part 3: Electronic communications
  11. 8Whether relevant information has been delivered electronically
  12. 9Proof of content of electronic delivery
  13. 10Proof of identity of person sending or receiving electronic delivery
  14. 11Information sent electronically on behalf of a person
  15. 12Proof of delivery of information sent electronically
  16. 13Use of unauthorised method of electronic communications
  17. Signature
  18. Schedule: Real time returns – specified information
  19. 1Paragraph 1
  20. 2Paragraph 2
  21. 3Paragraph 3
  22. 4Paragraph 4
  23. 5Paragraph 5
  24. 6Paragraph 6
  25. 7Paragraph 7
  26. 8Paragraph 8
  27. 9Paragraph 9
  28. 10Paragraph 10
  29. 11Paragraph 11
  30. 12Paragraph 12
  31. 13Paragraph 13
  32. 14Paragraph 14
  33. 15Paragraph 15
  34. 16Paragraph 16
  35. 17Paragraph 17
  36. 18Paragraph 18
  37. 19Paragraph 19
  38. 20Paragraph 20
  39. 21Paragraph 21
  40. 22Paragraph 22
  41. 23Paragraph 23
  42. 24Paragraph 24
  43. 25Paragraph 25
  44. Explanatory note

1Citation and commencementI1

These Regulations may be cited as the Pension (Non-Taxable Payments Following Death) (Real Time Information) Regulations 2021 and come into force on 6th April 2022.

2InterpretationI1

In these Regulations—

  • “approved method of electronic communications”, in relation to the delivery of information in accordance with a provision of these Regulations, means a method of electronic communications which has been approved, by specific or general directions issued by the Commissioners, for the delivery of information of that kind or the making of a payment of that kind under that provision,

  • “the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs,

  • “electronic communications” has the meaning given in section 132(10) of the Finance Act 1999,

  • “HMRC” means Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs,

  • “national insurance number” means the national insurance number allocated within the meaning of regulation 9 of the Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) Regulations 2001f1,

  • “official computer system” means a computer system maintained by or on behalf of HMRC,

  • “pension payer” means a person making a relevant payment,

  • “pension scheme” and “registered pension scheme” have the meanings given in section 150(1) and (2) respectively of the Finance Act 2004,

  • “relevant beneficiary” means a person to whom a relevant payment is made,

  • “relevant payment” has the meaning given in regulation 3, and

  • “tax year” means a year for which any Act provides for income tax to be charged.

3Relevant paymentsI1

(1)

In these Regulations, any reference to a relevant payment means a payment of—

(a)

pension that is payable after the death of a member of a pension scheme under pension rule 2 within the meaning of section 165(1) of the Finance Act 2004f1,

(b)

pension death benefit within the meaning of section 167(2) of that Actf2, or

(c)

lump sum death benefit within the meaning of section 168(2) of that Actf3 other than—

(i)

defined benefits lump sum death benefit within the meaning of paragraph 13 of Schedule 29 to that Actf4, F1...

(ii)

uncrystallised funds lump sum death benefit within the meaning of paragraph 15 of Schedule 29 to that Actf5,F2or

(iii)

charity lump sum death benefit within the meaning of paragraph 18 of Schedule 29 to that Act,

that is not PAYE pension income within the meaning of section 683(3) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003f6.

(2)

In this regulation, “member” has the meaning given in section 151 of the Finance Act 2004.

4Real time returns of information about relevant paymentsI1

(1)

On or before making a relevant payment, the pension payer must deliver to HMRC the information specified in the Schedule in accordance with this regulation.

(2)

The information must be included in a return.

(3)

Subject to paragraph (4), if relevant payments are made to more than one relevant beneficiary at the same time, the return under paragraph (2) must include the information required by the Schedule in respect of each relevant beneficiary to whom a relevant payment is made at that time.

(4)

If relevant payments are made to more than one relevant beneficiary at the same time but the pension payer operates more than one payroll, the pension payer must make a return in respect of each payroll.

(5)

The return must be made using an approved method of electronic communications.

5Returns under regulation 4: amendmentsI1

(1)

This regulation applies where there is an inaccuracy in a return made under regulation 4, whether careless or deliberate, and paragraph (2), (3) or (4) applies.

(2)

This paragraph applies where the inaccuracy relates to the information given in the return in respect of a relevant beneficiary under paragraph 16 of the Schedule.

(3)

This paragraph applies where the inaccuracy is the omission of details of a relevant payment made to a relevant beneficiary.

(4)

This paragraph applies where the inaccuracy arises because, as a result of a retrospective tax provision, the total amount of the relevant payment made by a pension payer to a relevant beneficiary increases for any tax year.

(5)

Where a pension payer becomes aware of an inaccuracy in a return submitted under regulation 4 the pension payer may provide the correct information in the next return for the tax year in question.

(6)

But if the information has not been corrected before 20th April following the end of the tax year in question, the pension payer may make a return under this paragraph.

(7)

A return under paragraph (6)—

(a)

must include the following—

(i)

the information specified in paragraphs 2 to 4, 7 to 12 and 15 of the Schedule,

(ii)

the amount which should have been given under paragraph 16 of the Schedule in the final return under regulation 4 containing information in respect of the relevant beneficiary in the tax year in question, and

(iii)

the tax code used by the pension payer in respect of the relevant beneficiary in the tax year in question,

(b)

must be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the pension payer becomes aware of the inaccuracy, and

(c)

must be made by an approved method of electronic communications.

6Failure to make a return under regulation 4I1

(1)

This regulation applies where a pension payer does not make a return as required by regulation 4.

(2)

The pension payer must provide the information in the next return made under regulation 4 for the tax year in question.

(3)

If the pension payer does not provide the information before 20th April following the end of the tax year in question, the pension payer must make a return under this paragraph.

(4)

A return under paragraph (3) must—

(a)

include the information specified in the Schedule,

(b)

be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the discovery of the failure to make the return, and

(c)

be made using an approved method of electronic communications.

7Penalty: failure to comply with regulation 4I1

(1)

A pension payer which does not deliver a return in accordance with regulation 4 is liable to a penalty of the amount set out in paragraph (2).

(2)

Where a pension payer fails to deliver such a return and the number of relevant beneficiaries in the period to which the return relates is—

(a)

no more than 9, the penalty is £100,

(b)

at least 10 but no more than 49, the penalty is £200,

(c)

at least 50 but no more than 249, the penalty is £300, and

(d)

at least 250, the penalty is £400.

(3)

Paragraphs 6C(1) to (6), 6D, 16, 18(1) to (4), 19 to 23, 26 and 27 of Schedule 55 to the Finance Act 2009f1 apply in relation to penalties under this regulation.

8Whether relevant information has been delivered electronicallyI1

(1)

For the purposes of these Regulations, information is taken to have been delivered to an official computer system by an approved method of electronic communications only if it is accepted by that official computer system.

(2)

But information which is delivered to an official computer system must meet the standards of accuracy and completeness set by specific or general directions given by the Commissioners.

(3)

Information which fails to meet those standards is treated as not having been delivered.

9Proof of content of electronic deliveryI1

(1)

A document certified by HMRC to be a printed-out version of information delivered by an approved method of electronic communications is evidence, unless the contrary is proved, that the information—

(a)

was delivered by an approved method of electronic communications on that occasion, and

(b)

constitutes everything which was delivered on that occasion.

(2)

A document which purports to be a certificate given in accordance with paragraph (1) is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be such a certificate.

10Proof of identity of person sending or receiving electronic deliveryI1

The identity of—

(a)

the person sending any information delivered by an approved method of electronic communications to HMRC, or

(b)

the person receiving any information delivered by an approved method of electronic communications by HMRC,

is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the person recorded as such on an official computer system.

11Information sent electronically on behalf of a personI1

(1)

Any information delivered by an approved method of electronic communications–

(a)

to HMRC, or

(b)

to an official computer system,

on behalf of a person is taken to have been delivered by that person.

(2)

But this does not apply if the person proves that the information was delivered without the person’s knowledge or connivance.

12Proof of delivery of information sent electronicallyI1

(1)

The use of an approved method of electronic communications is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have resulted in the delivery of information—

(a)

to HMRC, if the delivery of the information has been recorded on an official computer system,

(b)

by HMRC, if the despatch of the information has been recorded on an official computer system.

(2)

The use of an approved method of electronic communications is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, not to have resulted in the delivery of information—

(a)

to HMRC, if the delivery of the information has not been recorded on an official computer system,

(b)

by HMRC, if the despatch of the information has not been recorded on an official computer system.

(3)

The time of receipt or despatch of any information delivered by an approved method of electronic communications is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the time recorded on an official computer system.

(4)

The Commissioners may by a general or specific direction provide for information to be treated as delivered upon a different date (whether earlier or later) than that given by paragraph (3).

13Use of unauthorised method of electronic communicationsI1

The use of a method of electronic communications for the purpose of delivering information which is required to be delivered to HMRC under a provision of these Regulations is conclusively presumed not to have resulted in the delivery of that information, unless that method of electronic communications is for the time being approved for delivery of information of that kind under that provision.

Signature

Angela MacDonald

Justin Holliday

Two of the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs

26th April 2021

1I1

The information specified in this Schedule is as follows.

2I1

The number allocated by HMRC as the pension payer’s HMRC office number.

3I1

The number allocated by HMRC as the pension payer’s PAYE reference.

4I1

The number allocated by HMRC as the pension payer’s accounts office reference.

5I1

If applicable, an indication that this is the final return under regulation 4 that the pension payer expects to make because this PAYE scheme has ceased (and, in that case, the date of cessation).

6I1

If applicable, an indication that this is the final return under regulation 4 that the pension payer expects to make for the tax year.

7I1

The relevant beneficiary’s name.

8I1

The relevant beneficiary’s date of birth.

9I1

The relevant beneficiary’s current gender.

10I1

If known, the relevant beneficiary’s national insurance number.

11I1

If the relevant beneficiary’s national insurance number is not known, or if the return is the first return in respect of the relevant beneficiary following the commencement of the relevant beneficiary’s entitlement to a relevant payment under the pension scheme, the relevant beneficiary’s address.

12I1

The number used by the pension payer to identify the relevant beneficiary in this pension scheme.

13I1

If applicable, an indication that the payment to which the return relates is a payment to any one of—

(a)

a body corporate,

(b)

a trustee of a trust of which the relevant beneficiary is a beneficiary,

(c)

the relevant beneficiary’s personal representative.

14I1

Where the return relates to a payment within paragraph 13, the information required by paragraphs 7 to 11 need not be provided.

15I1

The tax year to which the return relates.

16I1

The total tax deducted in relation to the total relevant payments made to date.

17I1

The relevant beneficiary’s pay frequency or an indication that payments are made to the relevant beneficiary on an irregular basis.

18I1

The date of the payment the return relates to.

19I1

The tax week number or tax month number in which the payment is made, where—

(a)

“tax month” means the period beginning on the 6th day of a calendar month and ending on the 5th day of the following calendar month, and

(b)

“tax week” means 6th April to 12th April (inclusive) and each successive period of 7 days, except that the final tax week in a tax year is just the last day of the tax year (or last 2 days in a leap year).

20I1

The value of the payment the return relates to.

21I1

The tax code operated on the payment the return relates to.

22I1

If applicable, an indication that the relevant beneficiary’s tax code is being operated on a non-cumulative basis.

23I1

The total net tax deducted from the payment the return relates to.

24I1

The date on which the relevant beneficiary’s entitlement to the relevant payment under the pension scheme commenced or will commence.

25I1

If the relevant beneficiary’s entitlement to the relevant payment under the pension scheme has ceased, the date of cessation.

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for the information that a pension payer must send to HMRC under the Real Time Information system, in relation to certain payments made in respect of a member of a registered pension scheme under Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 following the death of that member, where such payments are not taxable as pay as you earn (PAYE) pension income (i.e. the payments are non-taxable). The Regulations come into force on 6th April 2022.

Currently, pension payers making payments of PAYE pension income are already required to send to HMRC similar information in respect of such payments, using the Real Time Information system. The Regulations will extend this requirement to payments of such non-taxable payments, which do not fall within the scope of the current requirements.

Part 1 deals with citation and commencement, and interpretation.

Part 2 deals with information that is required to be sent to HMRC by an approved method of electronic communications. The information falling within this Part is set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.

Part 3 deals with evidential matters related to the sending of information to HMRC under the Regulations.

A Tax Information and Impact Note covering this instrument will be published on the GOV.UK website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-information-and-impact-notes-tiins.