RPSM03110250 - Technical Pages: Protecting pension rights from tax charges: Retained benefits practice before 6 April 2006: Alternative valuation method

Alternative method for valuing retained benefits after 5 April 2006

16.55a

From 5 April 2006 as an alternative to the valuation guidance in paragraphs 16.38 to 16.55 retained benefits may be valued as follows:

For pension rights which have not come into payment on 5th April 2006;

  • if the pension rights are money purchase rights other than cash balance rights the amount of the annual pension will be the value of the sums plus the market value of the assets held on 5 April 2006 to provide the individual’s benefits where that value is divided either by 20 or by an annuity rate calculated from the GAD Tables as at 5 April 2006. Administrators are free to choose which divisor should apply. Market value should be determined in accordance with section 272 of Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.
  • if the pension rights are cash balance rights the amount of the annual pension will be the value of the capital available at normal retirement date (for the scheme holding the retained benefit) divided either by 20 or by an annuity rate calculated from the GAD Tables as at 5 April 2006. Administrators are free to choose which divisor should apply. The amount of capital available may be reduced to take account of notional immediate payment on 5 April 2006 in accordance with the provisions of the scheme holding the retained benefit.
  • if the pension rights are defined benefits rights the amount of the annual pension will be the amount of annual pension available at normal retirement date (for the scheme holding the retained benefit). The amount of annual pension available may be reduced to take account of notional immediate payment on 5 April 2006 in accordance with the provisions of the scheme holding the retained benefit.
  • if the pension rights are hybrid rights the amount of the annual pension will be the higher or highest value for annual pension for the alternate rights available under the hybrid promise.
  • money purchase, cash balance, defined benefits and hybrid are as defined in section 152 of Finance Act 2004.

For lump sum rights which have not come into payment on 5th April 2006 where those rights will not be payable as a consequence of commuting pension rights;

  • the amount of the annual pension attributable to the lump sum rights will be the value of the lump sum available at normal retirement date (for the scheme holding the retained benefit) divided either by 20 or by an annuity rate calculated from the GAD Tables as at 5 April 2006. Administrators are free to choose which divisor should apply. The amount of lump sum available may be reduced to take account of notional immediate payment on 5 April 2006 in accordance with the provisions of the scheme holding the retained benefit.

For pension rights already in payment on 5th April 2006;

  • the annual amount of pension in payment on 5th April 2006 or the annual amount of the pension when it first came into payment. Where the pension is being paid under drawdown or income withdrawal the amount of the pension must be valued as the maximum amount annual pension that could have be paid on 5 April 2006.

For lump sums paid on or before 5th April 2006;

  • the amount of the annual pension attributable to the lump sums paid will be the amount of the lump sums paid divided either by 20 or by an annuity rate calculated from the GAD Tables as at 5 April 2006. Administrators are free to choose which divisor should apply.

For pre 17 March 1987 members who have lump sum retained benefits;

  • where the lump sum has not come into payment on 5 April 2006 the value of the retained benefit will be the value of the lump sum that could be paid immediately on 5 April 2006 on the basis that the member is assumed to be aged 50 if he/she has not attained that age on that date
  • where the lump sum has been paid on or before 5 April 2006 the value is the amount paid as a lump sum benefit.