Part 4

Pension schemes etc
Chapter 5

Registered pension schemes: tax charges

Annual allowance charge

Pension input period : arrangement commencing before 9 July 2015
238
1
In the case of an arrangement under a registered pension scheme where the relevant commencement date is before 9 July 2015, but subject to section 238ZA, the following are pension input periods—
a
the period beginning with the relevant commencement date and ending with —
i
a nominated date falling before the anniversary of the relevant commencement date, or
ii
if there is not such a nominated date, the first 5 April after the relevant commencement date (or, if the relevant commencement date is itself 5 April, that date), and
b
each subsequent period beginning immediately after the end of a period which is a pension input period (under paragraph (a) or this paragraph) and ending with the appropriate date.
2
“The relevant commencement date” means—
a
in the case of a cash balance arrangement or a defined benefits arrangement, or a hybrid arrangement the only benefits under which may be cash balance benefits or defined benefits, the date on which rights under the arrangement begin to accrue to or in respect of the individual,
b
in the case of a money purchase arrangement other than a cash balance arrangement, the first date on which a contribution within section 233(1) is made, and
c
in the case of a hybrid arrangement not within paragraph (a), whichever is the earlier of the date mentioned in that paragraph and the date mentioned in paragraph (b).
3
“Nominated date” means—
a
in the case of a money purchase arrangement other than a cash balance arrangement, such date as the individual or scheme administrator nominates, and
b
in the case of any other arrangement, such date as the scheme administrator nominates.
4
A nomination for the purposes of subsection (3)—
a
if by the individual, is to be made by notice to the scheme administrator, and
b
if by the scheme administrator, is to be made by notice to the individual.
4A
A date nominated for the purposes of subsection (3) must not be a date before that on which the nomination is made.
5
If more than one date is nominated for the purposes of subsection (3)—
a
in relation to the period beginning with the relevant commencement date, or
b
in relation to a tax year following that in which the pension input period beginning with that date ends,
the date nominated first is the nominated date.
6
“The appropriate date” means ...—
a
a nominated date falling in the tax year immediately after that in which the last pension input period ended, or
b
if there is not such a nominated date, the anniversary of the date on which that period ended.
7
Once the individual has become entitled to all the benefits which may be provided to the individual under an arrangement, the last pension input period in the case of the arrangement is that in which that was first so.
Pt. 4 modified (N.I.) (1.4.2006) by The Firemens Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/210), arts. 1(2), 103
S. 238(3) modified (6.4.2006) by The Registered Pension Schemes (Splitting of Schemes) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/569), regs. 1(1), 3(1)(2), Sch. 3 Pt. 1
S. 238(4) modified (6.4.2006) by The Registered Pension Schemes (Splitting of Schemes) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/569), regs. 1(1), 3(1)(2), Sch. 3 Pt. 1
Pt. 4 modified (6.4.2006) by The Pension Protection Fund (Tax) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/575), regs. 1, 9, 10
Pt. 4 modified (6.4.2006) by The Pension Protection Fund (Tax) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/575), regs. 1, 12
Pt. 4 modified (6.4.2006) by The Pension Protection Fund (Tax) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/575), regs. 1, 13(5)
Pt. 4 modified (6.4.2006) by The Pension Protection Fund (Tax) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/575), regs. 1, 26
Ss. 160-274, 281, Schs. 30-35 in force at 6.4.2006 but any power to make an order or regulations under those provisions may be exercised at any time after Royal Assent, see s. 284
Pt. 4 modified (31.12.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 3 para. 7; S.I. 2007/3203, art. 3(b)
Pt. 4 modified (1.7.2008) (N.I.) (with effect in accordance with reg. 1 of the amending Rule) by The Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (S.R. 2008/256), regs. 1, 124(1) (with regs. 134, 258)
Pt. 4 modified by The Taxation of Pension Schemes (Transitional Provisions) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/572), reg. 5A (as inserted (6.4.2006) by S.I. 2008/2990, arts. 1(1), 3)
Pt. 4 applied (21.7.2009) by Finance Act 2009 (c. 10), Sch. 35 para. 18
Pt. 4 modified (19.7.2011) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 18 para. 14(3)
S. 238(1)(a)(i)(ii) substituted for words (with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 Pt. 2 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 17 para. 16(2)
S. 238(4A) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 Pt. 2 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 17 para. 16(3)
Words in s. 238(6) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 Pt. 2 of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 17 para. 16(4)(a)
Word in s. 238(6) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 Pt. 2 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 17 para. 16(4)(b)
Words in s. 238(6)(b) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 Pt. 2 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 17 para. 16(4)(c)
Words in s. 238(7) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 Pt. 2 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 17 para. 16(5)
Pt. 4 applied (with modifications) (with application in accordance with Sch. 22 para. 1 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 22 para. 1(2)
Pt. 4 modified (17.7.2014) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 6 para. 1(2)(3)
Pt. 4: power to amend conferred (17.12.2014) by Taxation of Pensions Act 2014 (c. 30), s. 4(3)
Words in s. 238 title inserted (18.11.2015) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 4 para. 2(a)
Words in s. 238(1) inserted (18.11.2015) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 4 para. 2(b)
Pt. 4 modified (15.9.2016) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), Sch. 4 para. 1
Pt. 4 modified (15.9.2016) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), Sch. 4 para. 9(2)
Pt. 4 modified (with effect in relation to the tax year 2024-25 and subsequent tax years) by The MPs’, Senedd and Assembly Pension Schemes (Tax) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/52), regs. 1(2)(3), 6