Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

Minimum contributions: members of appropriate personal pension schemesN.I.

39 Payment of minimum contributions to personal pension schemes.N.I.

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this Part, the [F1Inland Revenue] shall, except in such circumstances [F2or in respect of such periods] as may be prescribed, pay minimum contributions in respect of an employed earner for any period during which the earner—

(a)is over the age of 16 but has not attained pensionable age;

(b)is not a married woman or widow who has made an election which is still operative that [F3so much of her liability in respect of primary Class 1 contributions as is attributable to section 8(1)(a) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992] shall be a liability to contribute at a reduced rate; and

(c)is a member of an appropriate personal pension scheme which is for the time being the earner’s chosen scheme.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), minimum contributions in respect of an earner shall be paid to the [F4earner] .

(3)In such circumstances as may be prescribed minimum contributions shall be paid to a prescribed person.

(4)Where the condition mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (c) ceases to be satisfied in the case of an earner in respect of whom the [F1Inland Revenue][F5are] required to pay minimum contributions, the duty of the [F1Inland Revenue] to pay them shall cease as from a date determined in accordance with regulations [F6made by the Secretary of State].

(5)If the [F1Inland Revenue][F7pay] an amount by way of minimum contributions which [F8they are] not required to pay, the [F1Inland Revenue] may recover it—

(a)from the person to whom the [F1Inland Revenue] paid it, or

(b)from any person in respect of whom the [F1Inland Revenue] paid it.

(6)If the [F1Inland Revenue][F7pay] in respect of an earner an amount by way of minimum contributions which the [F1Inland Revenue][F9are] required to pay, but [F10do] not pay it to the trustees or managers of the earner’s chosen scheme, the may recover it from the person to whom the [F1Inland Revenue] paid it or from the earner.

[F11(6A)Where a payment under subsection (1) is due in respect of an earner, HMRC are not required to make the payment if they determine that the cost to them of administering the payment would exceed the amount of the payment.]

[F12(7)In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.]

[F13(8)In this section “the earner's chosen scheme” means the scheme which was immediately before [F14the first abolition date] the earner's chosen scheme in accordance with section 40 (as it had effect prior to that date).]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 39(1)(4)(5)(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F2Words in s. 39(1) inserted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 147, Sch. 3 para. 34; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F3Words in s. 39(1)(b) substituted (8.7.2002) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c.19), s. 6, Sch. 1 para. 43

F5Word in s. 39(4) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(3)(a); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F6Words in s. 39(4) inserted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(3)(b); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F7Words in s. 39(5)(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(4)(5); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F8Words in s. 39(5) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(4); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F9Word in s. 39(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(5); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F10Word in s. 39(6) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(5); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F12S. 39(7) added (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 54(6); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F14Words in s. 39(8) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 2

F1540 Earner’s chosen scheme.N.I.

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Textual Amendments

41 Amount of minimum contributions.N.I.

[F16(1)In relation to any tax week falling within a period for which the [F17Inland Revenue are] required to pay minimum contributions in respect of an earner, the amount of those contributions shall be an amount equal to the appropriate age-related percentage of so much of the earnings paid in that week (other than earnings in respect of contracted-out employment) as exceeds the current lower earnings limit but not [F18the upper accrual point] (or the prescribed equivalents if he is paid otherwise than weekly).]

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)Regulations [F19made by the Secretary of State] may make provision—

(a)for earnings to be calculated or estimated in such manner and on such basis as may be prescribed for the purpose of determining whether any, and if so what, minimum contributions are payable in respect of them;

(b)for the adjustment of the amount which would otherwise be payable by way of minimum contributions so as to avoid the payment of trivial or fractional amounts;

(c)for the intervals at which, for the purposes of minimum contributions, payments of earnings are to be treated as made;

F20(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e)for this section to have effect in prescribed cases as if for any reference to a tax week there were substituted a reference to a F21. . .

(f)as to the manner in which and time at which or period within which minimum contributions are to be made.

[F22(4)In subsection (3) “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.]

[F23(5)For the purposes of this section “the appropriate age-related percentage”, in relation to a tax year beginning before [F24the first abolition date], is the percentage (or percentages) specified as such for that tax year in an order made under section 41A (as it had effect prior to that date).]

Textual Amendments

F16S. 41(1) substituted (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 135(2); S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F17Words in s. 41(1) substituted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 56(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F18Words in s. 41(1) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 12(2) of the amending Act) by Pensions (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 13), s. 118(2), Sch. 7 para. 12(1) (with s. 73)

F19Words in s. 41(3) inserted (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 56(3); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F21Words in s. 41(3)(e) repealed (6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), arts. 135(4), 168, Sch. 5 Pt. III; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)

F22S. 41(4) added (24.3.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, arts. 1(2)(b), 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 56(4); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2

F24Words in s. 41(5) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 2

F2541A Alteration of rates of minimum contributions under section 41.N.I.

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Textual Amendments

F27[F2641B] Money purchase and personal pension schemes: verification of agesN.I.

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Textual Amendments

F26S. 41B inserted (6.4.1996 for certain purposes otherwise 6.4.1997) by S.I. 1995/3213 (N.I. 22), art. 136; S.R. 1996/91, art. 2(d), Sch. Pt. IV; S.R. 1997/192, art. 2(b)