HMRC has published information on the use of unfunded pension arrangements which are set up in an attempt to avoid corporation tax, income tax and National Insurance (“NI”) contributions.

If you think you have put in place such an unfunded pension arrangement, or are considering setting up an unfunded pension arrangement in the future, you may find the information helpful in understanding the tax treatment that will be applied to that arrangement.Continue Reading Disguised remuneration: HMRC information on tax avoidance using unfunded pension arrangements

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it many challenges. One of the challenges faced by businesses has been how to work around the social distancing restrictions that have existed in various forms over the course of 2020. In this post we briefly explore one aspect of this – whether, and how, documents may be signed electronically.
Continue Reading Electronic signing in a COVID world and beyond

This post will be of interest to employers who have a defined benefit pension scheme.

Background

Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes were once the pension arrangement of choice for paternalistic employers seeking to provide competitive benefit packages for their employees.

In more recent times, however, difficult investment environments, increasing life expectancy, low gilt yields and in many cases shrinking company size, have left companies with expanding DB pension schemes burning a hole in their balance sheet. Sound familiar? It is unlikely you would have missed the press coverage surrounding BHS and Tata Steel, and the issues that those companies faced.Continue Reading Buy-ins vs buy-outs – what employers should know

Mayer Brown’s UK Pensions Group has launched a monthly video series providing a snapshot of recent developments and issues of current importance in the UK pensions industry. In the first episode, available on our YouTube channel, partner Richard Goldstein looks at the issue of DB superfunds and, in particular, the UK government’s recent consultation