IPTM4410 - Purchased life annuities: overseas payers: appointment of a tax representative: requirements and exceptions

A non-UK insurer who sells or intends to sell annuities to annuitants in the UK must nominate a UK tax representative within 3 months of the first payment being made under an annuity sold in the UK, unless released by HMRC from this requirement.

A non-UK insurer may nominate the tax representative or HMRC may appoint a tax representative in the absence of a suitable nomination by the insurer. Guidance on the procedure for nominating a tax representative is in IPTM4420 onwards.

The main duties of a tax representative are to ensure that all of the requirements relating to purchased life annuities are correctly complied with and to ensure that forms PLA6 are completed correctly and sent to the annuitant and HMRC within the time limits.

Release from the requirement to have a tax representative in the UK

An overseas payer may be released from the requirement to have a UK tax representative if it makes a declaration to HMRC that it will conduct life annuity business in accordance with the law including regulations applicable in the UK see IPTM4480 onwards.

Where a non-UK insurer is resident in an EEA state under whose law it is a criminal offence for the insurer to disclose to HMRC the information relating to holders of annuities it does not have to send copies of forms PLA6 to HMRC as described in IPTM4350.