Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Registered Pension Schemes (Provision of Information) Regulations 2006 (“the principal Regulations”) which concern the provision of information by persons such as members and scheme administrators of registered pension schemes. These Regulations are being made to support changes made by Part 2 of the Finance Act 2026 (“the new provisions”) which mean that from 6th April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be brought within the value of a deceased person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes. The Regulations also amend the Registered Pension Schemes and Overseas Pension Schemes (Electronic Communication of Returns and Information) Regulations 2006 (“the Electronic Communication Regulations”) to require information to be supplied electronically.

Regulation 3 inserts new definitions into regulation 2(1) of the principal Regulations.

Regulation 4 makes a minor amendment to clarify the timing requirements for providing information for event 20A in the table appended to regulation 3(1) of the principal Regulations. This corrects an omission from when event 20A was inserted by regulation 3 of the Registered Pension Schemes and Overseas Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018.

Regulation 5 amends regulation 8 of the principal Regulations (provision of information by scheme administrator to personal representatives) to require confirmation of the amount, if any, by which a beneficiary’s entitlement to the lump sum death benefit was reduced because of an adjustment under the new provisions. It also clarifies when information must be provided under this regulation.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 10 of the principal Regulations (provision of information by personal representatives to the Commissioners) to require confirmation of the amount, if any, by which a beneficiary’s entitlement to the lump sum death benefit was reduced because of an adjustment under the new provisions.

Regulation 7 amends the principal Regulations to insert new regulations 10C to 10M. Regulations 10C to 10I specify the information required to be provided by scheme administrators and insurance companies to personal representatives, a prospective personal representative and beneficiaries to enable them to comply with the new provisions. Regulations 10J to 10M specify the information to be provided by scheme administrators when a payment of inheritance tax has been made by them on behalf of a personal representative or a beneficiary.

Regulation 8 amends and extends the Electronic Communication Regulations to require the information specified to be provided by an approved method of electronic communications so that it applies to all reportable events in the table in paragraph (1) of regulation 3 of the principal Regulations.

A Tax Information and Impact Note covering this instrument was published on 26th November 2025 as part of the Budget and Finance Bill publications and is available on the website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inheritance-tax-unused-pension-funds-and-death-benefits/inheritance-tax-unused-pension-funds-and-death-benefits. It remains an accurate summary of the impacts that apply to this instrument.