RPSM02105020 - Technical pages: Registering a pension scheme with HMRC: de-registration: Why would a registered pension scheme be de-registered?

Why would a registered pension scheme be de-registered?

The tax legislation sets out the grounds on which HMRC may withdraw the registration of a pension scheme.

A scheme may be de-registered only where it appears to HMRC that

• the scheme administrator has failed to pay a substantial amount of tax, or interest on tax, which they are liable for under Part 4 of Finance Act 2004
• the scheme has made "scheme chargeable payments" and the total of these in any 12 month period exceeds the "de-registration threshold" (see RPSM02105030)
• there is no scheme administrator
• the application to register the pension scheme contained information which was materially incorrect
• any other information provided to HMRC was materially incorrect
• a declaration accompanying the application to register the pension scheme was materially false
• any other declaration to HMRC in respect of other information given to HMRC was materially false
• the scheme administrator has failed to provide information which HMRC has required them to provide under Part 4 of Finance Act 2004, and the failure is significant. (This means that either the amount of information the scheme administrator has failed to provide is substantial, or the failure to provide the information is likely to result in serious prejudice to the assessment or collection of tax).

Please note that although HMRC has the power to de-register a scheme in these circumstances, it is not required to do so. The circumstances of a particular case can be taken into account.