The Registered Pension Schemes (Meaning of Pension Commencement Lump Sum) Regulations 2006

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

In the Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Part 4 makes new provision for pension schemes, and Schedule 29 falls within Part 4. The Schedule makes further provision in connection with authorised lump sums, and paragraph 1 of the Schedule is concerned with the meaning of the expression “pension commencement lump sum”.

Paragraph 1(6) of Schedule 29 (inserted by paragraph 34(3) of Schedule 10 to the Finance Act 2005 (c. 7)) provides for regulations to prescribe the circumstances in which incorrect income tax has been paid by the scheme administrator in relation to the member by way of the lifetime allowance charge, and to prescribe the circumstances in which a lump sum subsequently paid to the member is to be treated as a pension commencement lump sum, even though either or both of the conditions in sub-paragraph (1)(c) and (e) of paragraph 1 of Schedule 29 are not met. The overall result is that, in the prescribed circumstances, a lump sum may be treated as a pension commencement lump sum even though it is not paid within the period of three months beginning with the day on which the member becomes entitled to it, or it is paid when the member has reached the age of 75 (or both).

These Regulations specify the relevant prescribed circumstances. The prescribed circumstances in which incorrect income tax has been paid by the scheme administrator in relation to the member by way of the lifetime allowance charge are circumstances in which the scheme administrator has made an overpayment by way of the lifetime allowance charge in relation to the member, and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs refund the overpayment to the scheme administrator. The prescribed circumstances in which a lump sum subsequently paid to the member is to be treated as a pension commencement lump sum are circumstances in which Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs refund such an overpayment to the scheme administrator, and the scheme administrator pays part or all of the overpayment to the member within three months of receiving it.

A regulatory impact assessment in respect of the provisions of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004 and subordinate legislation under it was published by the Board of Inland Revenue on 8 April 2004, and is available on HM Revenue & Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/simplifying-pensions.pdf or (for hard copies) by writing to the Ministerial Correspondence Unit, 1st Floor, Ferrers House, PO Box 38, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, NG 2 1BB.