In March 2023, the Pensions Regulator published guidance for trustees and employers on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The guidance explains what EDI is, why it is important for occupational pension schemes to improve EDI in their trustee boards, and how trustees and employers can do so. For more information on the Regulator’s guidance, please
The Pensions Regulator (the “Regulator”) has announced that it will not now consult on a revised defined benefit (“DB”) funding code of practice until late summer 2022.
The Regulator’s current code of practice on DB scheme funding came into force in 2014. In 2020, the Regulator carried out the first of
In the autumn Budget, the Government announced plans to fix a longstanding pension tax issue: the “low earners anomaly”. This is a positive development for low-earning members under “net pay” schemes. For employers it signals that other, less attractive, proposals are no longer on the table.
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published a revised version of its code of practice on contribution notices. TPR has updated the code to cover the two new grounds for issuing a contribution notice – the employer insolvency and employer resources tests. The updated code came into force on 25 November.
Continue Reading Contribution notices – updated Pensions Regulator code of practice
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is consulting on its draft levy determination for the 2022/23 levy. The PPF currently has a strong funding position. It therefore intends to set the 2022/23 levy estimate at £415 million, £105 million less than in 2021/22. Around 82% of schemes that pay the risk-based levy will see a levy reduction. The consultation closes on 9 November.
Continue Reading Pension Protection Fund levy – lower levies expected in 2022/23
The government is consulting on regulations that (a) make changes to the list of employer notifiable events and (b) prescribe the events affecting a DB scheme employer in respect of which a notice and accompanying statement (often referred to as a “declaration of intent”) must be given to the Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the scheme
You will no doubt recall that, back in February, the Pension Schemes Act 2021 (the “Act”) finally became law. The Act changes the pensions landscape quite drastically and one way it did this was to extend the Pensions Regulator (“tPR”)’s contribution notice (“CN”) regime.
What changed in a nutshell?
tPR
The Pension Schemes Act 2021 introduces a framework for a new type of pension scheme – collective money purchase schemes. Also known as collective defined contribution or CDC schemes, this type of pension scheme offers a middle path between traditional defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) schemes.
Employer and member contributions are fixed, as in a DC scheme. However, investment and longevity risks are borne collectively by the members, rather than being borne exclusively by the employer (as in a DB scheme) or exclusively by the individual member (as in a DC scheme). Members are promised a target retirement income, but this can be adjusted up or down to reflect the scheme’s investment performance and other risks as longevity experience.
The government is currently consulting on draft regulations setting out further detail of the legal framework for CDC schemes. The consultation closes on 31 August.
Continue Reading A third way – collective money purchase pension schemes
DC consolidation has been on the Government’s agenda for some time. Now the DWP has published a call for evidence, suggesting that the push to consolidate will be ramped up.
Consolidation involves winding up small DC arrangements and moving active members and accrued DC pots to larger schemes. Typically the chosen destination will be a master trust – a multi-employer occupational pension scheme which operates on a commercial basis. Master trusts are subject to an authorisation and supervision regime run by the Pensions Regulator.
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.