RPSM12400020 - Employer Pages: Information Requirements and Administration: Notices requiring documents or particulars - sponsoring employer

Notices requiring documents or particulars - sponsoring employer

[Section 252(1) Finance Act 2004]
[The Registered Pension Schemes and Employer-Financed Retirement Benefit Schemes (Information) (Prescribed Descriptions of Persons) Regulations 2005 [SI 2005/3455]

[Reg. 5 The Registered Pension Schemes and Overseas Pension Schemes (Electronic Communication of Returns and Information) Regulations 2006] [SI 2006/570]

By virtue of Section 252(1) Finance Act 2004, HMRC can by notice require the sponsoring employer during the relevant period to produce or make available documents for inspection that are in that employer’s possession, or which they have power to obtain, in relation to any matter listed below.

A sponsoring employer during the relevant period can also be required by notice to provide HMRC with any particulars relating to those matters which may reasonably be required.

The relevant period in relation to this paragraph begins with the time of the event upon which information is required and ends with the end of the sixth tax year following the one in which the event occurred.

The matters for which documents or particulars may be requested are

  • any matter relating to a registered pension scheme
  • any matter relating to a pension scheme which has ceased to be a registered pension scheme
  • any matter relating to a pension scheme in relation to which an application for registration has been made
  • any matter relating to an annuity purchased with sums or assets held for the purposes of a registered pension scheme

A notice issued under this provision will state the time limit within which the notice is to be complied with. A minimum period of 30 days from the date of notice will be given.

Such notice may be given electronically if the proposed recipient has consented to the use of electronic communications for the delivery of information by HMRC.

The scheme administrator of the pension scheme will be informed by HMRC whenever a notice to an employer is issued under Section 252(1) Finance Act 2004.

Glossary RPSM20000000