Finance Act 1989

Part III E+W+S+N.I. Approved Schemes: Additional Voluntary Contributions

Preliminary E+W+S+N.I.

31 (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) below, this Part of this Scheduleapplies in relation to any retirement benefits scheme which was approved bythe Board before the day on which this Act is passed and which makes provisionfor the payment by an employee of voluntary contributions. E+W+S+N.I.

(2) Paragraph 32 below only applies where—

(a) the provision for the payment of voluntary contributions is freestanding,and

(b) the scheme is not one to which contributions are made by any employer ofthe employee.

(3) The Board may by regulations provide that, in circumstances prescribed inthe regulations, this Part of this Schedule or any provision of it shall notapply or shall apply with such modifications as may be so prescribed.

(4) Regulations under sub-paragraph (3) above—

(a) may include provision authorising the Board to direct that this Part ofthis Schedule or any provision of it shall not apply in any particular casewhere in the opinion of the Board the facts are such that its applicationwould not be appropriate;

(b) may make such supplementary provision as appears to the Board to benecessary or expedient.

Abatement of benefits E+W+S+N.I.

32 (1) The scheme shall have effect (notwithstanding anything in it to thecontrary) as if its rules included a rule imposing, in the case of eachbenefit provided for the employee, such a limit on the amount of the benefitas is mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) below. E+W+S+N.I.

(2) The limit referred to above is a limit of such an amount as is foundby—

(a) taking the amount of the limit imposed by the main scheme on the provisionof any like benefit for the employee by that scheme, and

(b) subtracting from that amount an amount equal to the relevant amount.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above the relevant amount is—

(a) where the employee is not a member of any other relevant scheme, theamount of any like benefit provided for the employee by the main scheme, and

(b) where the employee is a member of another relevant scheme or schemes, anamount equal to the aggregate of the amount mentioned in paragraph (a) aboveand the amount of any like benefit provided for the employee by the otherrelevant scheme or schemes.

(4) In sub-paragraph (3) above, references to the employee being a member ofanother relevant scheme are references to his being a member of any approvedscheme, other than the scheme, which provides additional benefits for him tosupplement those provided by the main scheme.

(5) This paragraph shall have effect in relation to benefits provided on orafter the day on which this Act is passed.

Return of surplus funds E+W+S+N.I.

33 (1) The scheme shall have effect (notwithstanding anything in it to thecontrary) as if its rules included a rule requiring the administrator, in thecircumstances mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) or (3) below, as the case may be,to make to the employee or his personal representatives a payment of an amountequal to the prescribed amount out of funds which are or have been held forthe purposes of the scheme. E+W+S+N.I.

(2) Where the provision for the payment of voluntary contributions isfreestanding, the circumstances referred to above are that the amount of anybenefit provided for the employee by the scheme would have been greater hadthe amount of any like benefit provided for him by the main scheme, or anyother relevant scheme of which he is a member, been less.

(3) Where the provision for the payment of voluntary contributions is notfreestanding, the circumstances referred to above are that the amount of anybenefit provided for the employee by virtue of the voluntary contributionswould have been greater had the amount of any like benefit provided for himby the principal provisions of the scheme, or any other relevant scheme ofwhich he is a member, been less.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1) above, the reference to the prescribed amount is toan amount calculated in accordance with the method for the time beingspecified in regulations made for the purposes of section 591 of the Taxes Act1988 as the method to be used for calculating the amount of any surplus funds.

(5) In sub-paragraph (2) above, the reference to the employee being a memberof another relevant scheme is a reference to his being a member of anyapproved scheme, other than the scheme, which provides additional benefits forhim to supplement those provided by the main scheme.

(6) In sub-paragraph (3) above, the reference to the employee being a memberof another relevant scheme is a reference to his being a member of anyapproved scheme, other than the scheme, which provides additional benefits forhim to supplement those provided by the principal provisions of the scheme.

34 The scheme shall have effect (notwithstanding anything in it to thecontrary) as if its rules included a rule enabling the administrator, beforemaking any payment by virtue of paragraph 33 above, to deduct the amount ofany tax to which he is charged by section 599A of the Taxes Act 1988 by virtueof making the payment. E+W+S+N.I.

Supplementary E+W+S+N.I.

35 In this Part of this Schedule— E+W+S+N.I.

(a) “administrator”, “approved scheme”, “employee” and “retirement benefits scheme”have the same meanings as in Chapter I of Part XIV of the Taxes Act 1988,

(b) “freestanding”, in relation to provision for the payment ofvoluntary contributions, means provision which is contained in a retirementbenefits scheme other than the one which provides the benefits which thevoluntary contributions are intended to supplement,

(c) “the main scheme”, in relation to provision for the paymentof voluntary contributions which is freestanding, means the retirementbenefits scheme which provides the benefits which the voluntary contributionsare intended to supplement,

(d) “principal provisions”, in relation to a retirement benefitsscheme which makes provision for the payment of voluntary contributions whichis not freestanding, means the provisions of the scheme concerning theprovision of the benefits which the voluntary contributions are intended tosupplement,

(e) references to the provision of a benefit for an employee shall, inrelation to a deceased employee, be construed as references to the provisionof a benefit in respect of him, and

(f) references to an employee being (or not being) a member of a scheme shall,in relation to a deceased employee, be construed as references to his havingbeen (or not having been) a member of a scheme immediately before the time ofhis death.