Finance Act 2004

De-registration U.K.

157 De-registration U.K.

(1) The Inland Revenue may withdraw the registration of a pension scheme.

(2) If the Inland Revenue withdraws the registration of a pension scheme the Inland Revenue must notify the scheme administrator.

(3) If there is no-one who is the scheme administrator, the Inland Revenue must instead notify any person or persons—

(a) who has or have responsibility for the discharge of any obligation relating to the pension scheme under section 271(4) (continuation of liability where no scheme administrator), section 272 (trustees etc.) or section 273 (members), and

(b) whom it is reasonably practicable for the Inland Revenue to identify.

(4) The notification must state the date on and after which the pension scheme will not be a registered pension scheme.

158 Grounds for de-registration U.K.

(1) The registration of a pension scheme may be withdrawn under section 157 only if it appears to the Inland Revenue—

[F1 (za) that the pension scheme has not been established, or is not being maintained, wholly or mainly for the purpose of making payments falling within section 164(1)(a) or (b) (authorised payments of pensions and lump sums),]

[F2 (zb) that the person who is, or any of the persons who are, the scheme administrator is not a fit and proper person to be, as the case may be—

(i) the scheme administrator, or

(ii) one of the persons who are the scheme administrator,]

(a) that the amount of the scheme chargeable payments (see section 241) made by the pension scheme during any period of 12 months exceeds the de-registration threshold,

(b) that the scheme administrator fails to pay a substantial amount of tax (or interest on tax) due from the scheme administrator by virtue of this Part,

(c) that the scheme administrator fails to provide information required to be provided to the Inland Revenue by virtue of this Part [F3 or Part 1 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008] and the failure is significant,

(d) that any information contained in the application to register the pension scheme or otherwise provided to the Inland Revenue is [F4 inaccurate] in a material particular,

[F5 (da) that the scheme administrator fails to produce any document required to be produced to an officer of Revenue and Customs by virtue of this Part or Part 1 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008,

(db) that any document produced to an officer of Revenue and Customs by the scheme administrator contains a material inaccuracy in relation to which at least one of conditions A to C in subsections (7) to (10) is met,]

[F6 (e) that any declaration accompanying the application to register the pension scheme, or otherwise made to an officer of Revenue and Customs in connection with the pension scheme, is false in a material particular,

(ea) that the scheme administrator has deliberately obstructed an officer of Revenue and Customs in the course of an inspection under [F7 section 159B or] Part 2 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 that has been approved by the tribunal, or]

(f) that there is no scheme administrator[F8 , or

(g) that the pension scheme is an occupational pension scheme, and a sponsoring employer in relation to the scheme is a body corporate that has been dormant during a continuous period of one month that falls within the period of one year ending with the day on which the decision to withdraw registration is made, or

(h) that the scheme is an unauthorised Master Trust scheme.]

(2) The amount of the scheme chargeable payments made by a pension scheme during any period of 12 months exceeds the de-registration threshold if the scheme chargeable payments percentage is 25% or more.

(3) The scheme chargeable payments percentage is—

(a) if only one scheme chargeable payment is made during the period of 12 months, the percentage of the pension fund used up on the occasion of that scheme chargeable payment, and

(b) if two or more scheme chargeable payments are made during the period of 12 months, the aggregate of the percentages of the pension fund used up on the occasion of each of those scheme chargeable payments.

(4) The percentage of the pension fund used up on the occasion of a scheme chargeable payment is—

where—

SCP is the amount of the scheme chargeable payment, and

AA is an amount equal to the aggregate of the amount of the sums and the market value of the assets held for the purposes of the pension scheme at the time when the scheme chargeable payment is made.

(5) A failure by a scheme administrator to provide information required to be provided to the Inland Revenue by or under this Part [F9 or Part 1 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008] is significant if—

(a) the amount of information which the scheme administrator fails to provide is substantial, or

(b) the failure to provide the information is likely to result in serious prejudice to the assessment or collection of tax.

[F10 (6) Subsections (7) to (10) apply for the purposes of subsection (1)(db).

(7) Condition A is that the inaccuracy is careless or deliberate.

(8) An inaccuracy is careless if it is due to a failure by the scheme administrator to take reasonable care.

(9) Condition B is that the scheme administrator knows of the inaccuracy at the time the document is produced to an officer of Revenue and Customs but does not inform such an officer at that time.

(10) Condition C is that the scheme administrator—

(a) discovers the inaccuracy some time later, and

(b) fails to take reasonable steps to inform an officer of Revenue and Customs.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 158(1)(za) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(2)(a), 8(2)

F2 S. 158(1)(zb) inserted (1.9.2014) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(3)(a), 8(3)

F3 Words in s. 158(1)(c) inserted (with effect in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1114), arts. 1(1), 2(2)

F4 Word in s. 158(1)(d) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(2)(b), 8(2)

F5 S. 158(1)(da)(db) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(2)(c), 8(2)

F6 S. 158(1)(e)(ea) substituted for s. 158(1)(e) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(2)(d), 8(2)

F7 Words in s. 158(1)(ea) inserted (1.9.2014) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(3)(b), 8(3)

F8 S. 158(1)(g)(h) and word inserted (15.3.2018 for specified purposes, 6.4.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Finance Act 2018 (c. 3), Sch. 3 paras. 1(4), 2(1)(b)(2)(b)(3)

F9 Words in s. 158(5) inserted (with effect in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1114), arts. 1(1), 2(3)

F10 S. 158(6)-(10) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 6(4), 8(2)

159 Appeal against decision to de-register U.K.

(1) This section applies where the Inland Revenue decides to withdraw the registration of a pension scheme under section 157.

(2) The scheme administrator, or any person notified under that section of the withdrawal of registration, may appeal against the decision.

F11 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) An appeal under this section against a decision must be brought within the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the appellant was notified of the decision.

(6) [F12 On an appeal that is notified to the tribunal, the tribunal] must consider whether the registration of the pension scheme ought to have been withdrawn.

(7) If [F13 the tribunal decides] that the registration of the pension scheme ought to have been withdrawn, [F14 the tribunal must] dismiss the appeal.

(8) If [F15 the tribunal decides] that the registration of the pension scheme ought not to have been withdrawn, the pension scheme is to be treated as having remained a registered pension scheme (but subject to any further appeal F16 ...).

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 159(3)(4) omitted (1.4.2009) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 424(2)

F12 Words in s. 159(6) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 424(3)

F13 Words in s. 159(7) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 424(4)(a)

F14 Words in s. 159(7) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 424(4)(b)

F15 Words in s. 159(8) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 424(5)(a)

F16 Words in s. 159(8) omitted (1.4.2009) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 424(5)(b)

[F17 159A Power to require information or documents for purpose of considering if scheme administrator is fit and proper U.K.

(1) An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice (an “information notice”) require the scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme or any other person—

(a) to provide the officer with any information, or

(b) to produce a document to the officer,

if the officer reasonably requires the information or document for the purpose of considering whether the person who is, or any of the persons who are, the scheme administrator is a fit and proper person to be the scheme administrator or one of those persons (as the case may be).

(2) Paragraphs 6(2), 7, 8, 15, 16, 18 to 20, 23 to 27, 42 and 43 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (information notices etc) apply in relation to information notices under this section as they apply in relation to information notices under that Schedule.

(3) Where an information notice under this section is given to a person other than the scheme administrator, an officer of Revenue and Customs must give a copy of the notice to the scheme administrator.

(4) A person who is given an information notice under this section may appeal against the notice or any requirement in the notice.

(5) Paragraph 32 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (procedures for appeals against information notices) applies for the purposes of an appeal under subsection (4) as it applies for the purposes of an appeal under Part 5 of that Schedule.

Textual Amendments

F17 Ss. 159A-159D inserted (1.9.2014) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 7, 8(3)

159B Power to inspect documents for purpose of considering if scheme administrator is fit and proper U.K.

(1) An officer of Revenue and Customs may—

(a) enter any business premises of the scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme or of any other person, and

(b) inspect documents that are on the premises,

if the officer reasonably requires to inspect the documents for the purpose of considering whether the person who is, or any of the persons who are, the scheme administrator is a fit and proper person to be the scheme administrator or one of those persons (as the case may be).

(2) In subsection (1)(a) “business premises” has the meaning given by paragraph 10(3) of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (power to inspect business premises etc).

(3) Paragraphs 10(2), 12, 15 and 16 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 apply in relation to the power of inspection conferred by this section as they apply in relation to the power of inspection conferred by paragraph 10 of that Schedule.

(4) An officer of Revenue and Customs may not inspect a document under this section if or to the extent that, by virtue of a provision of Part 4 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (restrictions on powers) applied by section 159A(2), an information notice under section 159A given at the time of the inspection to the occupier of the premises could not require the occupier to produce the document.

(5) An officer of Revenue and Customs may ask the tribunal to approve an inspection under this section.

(6) Paragraph 13(1A), (2) and (3) of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (approval of tribunal for inspections) applies in relation to an application under subsection (5) as it applies in relation to an application under paragraph 13 of that Schedule in relation to an inspection under paragraph 10 of that Schedule.

Textual Amendments

F17 Ss. 159A-159D inserted (1.9.2014) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 7, 8(3)

159C Penalties for failure to comply with information notices etc U.K.

(1) This section applies where a person—

(a) fails to comply with an information notice under section 159A, or

(b) deliberately obstructs an officer of Revenue and Customs in the course of an inspection under section 159B that has been approved by the tribunal.

(2) The reference in subsection (1)(a) to a person who fails to comply with an information notice includes a person who conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of, or arranges for the concealment, destruction or disposal of, a document in breach of paragraph 42 or 43 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 as applied by section 159A(2).

(3) Paragraphs 39(2), 40 and 44 to 49 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (penalties for failure to comply with information notice etc) apply in relation to the failure or obstruction as they apply in relation to a failure or obstruction mentioned in paragraph 39(1) of that Schedule.

Textual Amendments

F17 Ss. 159A-159D inserted (1.9.2014) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 7, 8(3)

159D Penalties for inaccurate information or documents provided under information notice U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) in complying with an information notice under section 159A, a person provides inaccurate information or produces a document that contains an inaccuracy, and

(b) the inaccuracy is material.

(2) Paragraphs 40A and 46 to 49 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (penalties for inaccurate information and documents) apply in relation to the inaccuracy as they apply in relation to an inaccuracy connected with an information notice under that Schedule.]

Textual Amendments

F17 Ss. 159A-159D inserted (1.9.2014) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 8(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 7 paras. 7, 8(3)