Pensions Act 2004

[F1 88B Financial penalties: time for recovery U.K.

(1) Subsection (3) applies where—

(a) the Regulator is satisfied that section 88A applies to a person by virtue of section 58C or 58D (financial penalty for avoidance of employer debt etc),

(b) the Regulator issues a notice under section 88A requiring the person to pay a penalty in respect of the act or failure to act in question, and

(c) when the notice under section 88A is issued, the person is subject to one or more contribution notices issued under section 38 (contribution notices where avoidance of employer debt).

(2) Subsection (3) does not apply if, when the notice under section 88A is issued, a qualifying insolvency event has occurred in relation to the employer in relation to the scheme by reference to which the penalty under section 88A is imposed.

(3) The Regulator may not take any step to recover the penalty specified in the notice under section 88A (including accepting an amount offered in payment or part payment of the penalty) until after—

(a) the relevant date relating to the contribution notice or (as the case may be) the latest of the relevant dates relating to the contribution notices, or

(b) if sooner, the date on which a qualifying insolvency event occurs in relation to the employer in relation to the scheme by reference to which the penalty under section 88A is imposed.

(4) In this section—

• “qualifying insolvency event” has the meaning given by section 127(3);

• “the relevant date” means, in relation to a contribution notice issued under section 38—

  (a)

  the date specified under section 40(2A) for the purposes of sections 42A(2) and 42B(2), disregarding any date that has effect instead of that date by virtue of section 41(10A) or (11B), or

  (b)

  if sooner, the date on which the sum specified in the contribution notice is paid.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 88A-88C and cross-heading inserted (1.10.2021) by Pension Schemes Act 2021 (c. 1), ss. 115, 131(1); S.I. 2021/950, reg. 2(3)(i) (with reg. 3(1)(5))