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The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 9) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2000

S.I. 2000/2344 · Made 31 August 2000

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

SOCIAL SECURITY, NORTHERN IRELAND

Made 31st August 2000

Laid before Parliament 4th September 2000

Coming into force 25th September 2000

The Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by sections 11(4) and (5) and 171(3), (4) and (5) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992f1, and paragraph 8(1)(h), (m) and (q) and (1A) of Schedule 1f2 to that Act, and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by sections 121(1) and 171(3), (4) and (5) of that Act, and paragraph 3(1) and (6) of that Schedulef3, and of all other powers respectively enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1992 c. 7. The scope of section 11 and the provisions of Schedule 1 exercised by the Treasury and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in making these Regulations is extended by section 133(1) of the Finance Act 1999 (c. 16) insofar as they relate to the electronic delivery of information. Section 11(4) was amended by paragraph 13 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/671) (“the Transfer Order”) and by article 2 of S.I. 2000/755. Section 121(1) is cited because of the meaning ascribed to “prescribe”.

f2

Paragraph 8(1A) was inserted by paragraph 38(3) of Schedule 3 to the Transfer Order.

f3

Paragraph 3(1) was amended by paragraph 58(5) of Schedule 6 to the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1506 (N.I. 10)) and paragraph 3(6) was added by paragraph 32 of Schedule 3 to the Transfer Order.

Contents

  1. 1Citation and commencement
  2. 2Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  3. 3Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  4. 4Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  5. 5Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  6. 6Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  7. 7Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  8. 8Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  9. 9Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  10. 10Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  11. 11Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  12. 12Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979
  13. Signature
  14. Explanatory note

1Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 9) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 25th September 2000.

2Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

Amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979f1 in accordance with the following provisions of these Regulations.

3Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)f1 after the definition of “earnings-related contributions” insert—

  • ““electronic communications” includes any communications by means of a telecommunications system (within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1984f2), and a means of electronic communications, or a form of such communication, is approved if it is for the time being approved by the Inland Revenue;”.

4Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

(1)

Amend regulation 24 (application for certificates of exception etc.)f1 in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2)

In paragraph (1) for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue” (twice).

(3)

In paragraph (2) for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue”.

(4)

In paragraph (3) for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue” (twice).

(5)

In paragraph (5) for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue” (three times).

(6)

For paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6)

The holder of a certificate of exception—

(a)

shall produce the certificate for inspection when called upon to do so by an officer of the Inland Revenue; and

(b)

shall, if he desires that the certificate be cancelled, give notice to the Inland Revenue either in writing or in such form and by such means of electronic communications as are approved, and the certificate shall then cease to have effect from such date as the Inland Revenue determine.”.

5Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

(1)

Amend regulation 32 (return of contributions) in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2)

In paragraph (1)f1—

(a)

for “by the Department” substitute “by the Inland Revenue”; and

(b)

for “in writing to the Department” substitute “to the Inland Revenue either in writing or in such form and by such means of electronic communications as are approved”.

(3)

In paragraph (2)f2 for “the said regulation 17 and the Department has” substitute “regulation 17 of these Regulations and the Inland Revenue have”.

(4)

In paragraph (2A)f3 for “the said regulation 17 and the Department has” substitute “regulation 17 of these Regulations and the Inland Revenue have”.

(5)

In paragraph (4)f4 for “the said regulation 17” substitute “regulation 17 of these Regulations”.

(6)

In paragraph (5)—

(a)

for “the Department”, in the first and third places where it occurs, substitute “the Inland Revenue”; and

(b)

for “the Department is” substitute “the Inland Revenue are”.

6Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

(1)

Amend regulation 33 (return of Class 1 contributions paid at the non-contracted-out rate instead of the contracted-out rate) in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2)

In paragraph (1) for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue”.

(3)

In paragraph (2)—

(a)

for “the last preceding paragraph” substitute “paragraph (1) of this regulation”;

(b)

for “or with his consent in writing,” substitute

“or with the earner’s consent given—

(a)

in writing; or

(b)

in such form, and by such means of electronic communications, as are approved,”.

(4)

In paragraph (3)—

(a)

for “the Department”, in the first and third places where it occurs, substitute “the Inland Revenue”; and

(b)

for “the Department is” substitute “the Inland Revenue are”.

7Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

(1)

Amend regulation 34 (return of precluded Class 3 contributions) in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2)

In paragraph (1) for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue”.

(3)

For paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2)

A contributor wishing to apply for the return of a contribution falling within paragraph (1) of this regulation shall make an application to the Inland Revenue either—

(a)

in writing; or

(b)

in such form, and by such means of electronic communications, as are approved.”.

8Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

In regulation 53A (notification of commencement or cessation of payment of Class 2 or Class 3 contributions)f1 for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1)

A person to whom paragraph (2) of this regulation applies shall immediately notify the Inland Revenue in writing or by such means of electronic communications as is approved.”.

9Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

For regulation 53B (notification of change of address of contributor), and the heading preceding it, substitute—

“Notification of change of address

53B

A person liable to pay Class 2 contributions, or paying Class 2 (although not liable to do so) or Class 3 contributions, shall immediately notify the Inland Revenue of any change of his address in writing or by such means of electronic communications as is approved.”.

10Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

In the heading of regulation 54A (arrangements approved by the Department for method of, and time for, payment of Class 2 and Class 3 contributions)f1 for “the Department” substitute “the Inland Revenue”.

11Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

For paragraph (1) of regulation 54A substitute—

“(1)

The Inland Revenue may from time to time approve arrangements under which contributions are paid at times or in a manner different from those prescribed by regulation 54 of these Regulations (method and timing of payment of Class 2 and Class 3 contributions).

This is subject to paragraphs (1A) to (1C) of this regulation.

(1A)

When granting approval under paragraph (1) the Inland Revenue may impose such conditions as they see fit.

(1B)

The Inland Revenue may, in particular, grant approval under paragraph (1) if, as respects any year in which a person is both an employed earner and a self-employed earner, the condition in paragraph (1C) is satisfied.

(1C)

The condition is that the Inland Revenue are satisfied that the total amount of primary Class 1 contributions likely to be paid by or in respect of that person will exceed the maximum amount prescribed in regulation 17 of these Regulations for that year.”.

12Amendment of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979

(1)

Amend regulation 77 (return of special Class 4 contributions paid in error) in accordance with the following provisions of this regulation.

(2)

In paragraph (1)—

(a)

for “the Department to that person” substitute “the Inland Revenue to that person”; and

(b)

for “in writing to the Department” substitute “to the Inland Revenue in writing or in such other form and manner as the Inland Revenue may allow”.

(3)

In paragraph (3)—

(a)

omit “in such form and in such manner as the Department may from time to time determine, and”;

(b)

for “is satisfied” substitute “are satisfied”; and

(c)

for “the Department” (in the other two places where it occurs) substitute “the Inland Revenue”.

Signature

Greg Pope

Jim Dowd

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

31st August 2000

Ann Chant

Dave Hartnett

Two of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue

31st August 2000

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations permit a variety of notifications and applications, previously required to be made in writing under the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1979 (S.R. 1979 No. 186) (referred to in this Note as “the principal Regulations”), to be made alternatively by means of such electronic communications as are authorised by the Inland Revenue. Such notifications and applications may still be made in writing.

Regulation 1 provides for the citation and commencement of this instrument.

Regulation 2 introduces the amendments to the principal Regulations effected by the following regulations.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 1(2) of the principal Regulations by inserting a definition of “electronic communications”.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 24 of the principal Regulations to permit the making of an application for the cancellation of a certificate in the case of a person entitled to the benefit of the small earnings exception in any manner permitted by the Inland Revenue. Regulation 4 also contains, as do regulations 5 to 12, provisions consequent on the transfer of functions under the principal Regulations from the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland to the Inland Revenue by virtue of Schedule 2 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/671).

Regulations 5, 6, 7 and 12 make amendments respectively to regulations 32, 33, 34 and 77 of the principal Regulations. The amendments permit application for the return of contributions, to be made by electronic means and, in the case of a request for the return of special Class 4 contributions, in such other manner as is approved by the Inland Revenue. In addition, the amendment made by regulation 6(3) to regulation 33 of the principal Regulations enables an earner to give consent by electronic means to the return of primary Class 1 contributions to the secondary contributor.

Regulations 8 and 9 amend respectively regulations 53A and 53B of the principal Regulations. The amendments permit the commencement or cessation of payment of Class 2 or Class 3 contributions and changes of address to be notified by electronic means.

Regulation 11 replaces the existing paragraph (1) of regulation 54A of the principal Regulations with four new paragraphs which, in addition to substituting references to the Inland Revenue for those to the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, are intended to make the provisions easier to understand.