Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993

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

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part, the [F1 Inland Revenue] shall, except in such circumstances [F2 or 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 [F3 so 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 [F4 earner] .

(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 [F1 Inland Revenue][F5 are] required to pay minimum contributions, the duty of the [F1 Inland Revenue] to pay them shall cease as from a date determined in accordance with regulations [F6 made by the Secretary of State].

(5) If the [F1 Inland Revenue][F7 pay] an amount by way of minimum contributions which [F8 they are] not required to pay, the [F1 Inland Revenue] may recover it—

(a) from the person to whom the [F1 Inland Revenue] paid it, or

(b) from any person in respect of whom the [F1 Inland Revenue] paid it.

(6) If the [F1 Inland Revenue][F7 pay] in respect of an earner an amount by way of minimum contributions which the [F1 Inland Revenue][F9 are] required to pay, but [F10 do] not pay it to the trustees or managers of the earner’s chosen scheme, the may recover it from the person to whom the [F1 Inland 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 [F14 the first abolition date] the earner's chosen scheme in accordance with section 40 (as it had effect prior to that date).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words 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

F2 Words 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)

F3 Words in s. 39(1)(b) substituted (8.7.2002) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 (c.19), s. 6, Sch. 1 para. 43

F4 Word in s. 39(2) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Pensions (2008 No. 2 Act) (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/124), arts. 1(d), 31(5)(a)

F5 Word 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

F6 Words 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

F7 Words 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

F8 Words 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

F9 Word 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

F10 Word 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

F11 S. 39(6A) substituted (6.4.2015) by The Pensions (2008 No. 2 Act) (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/124), arts. 1(d), 31(5)(b)

F12 S. 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

F13 S. 39(8) added (6.4.2012) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 1), ss. 13(4), 21(1), Sch. 4 para. 19 (with Sch. 4 Pt. 3); S.R. 2012/115, art. 2

F14 Words in s. 39(8) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), s. 53(3), Sch. 13 para. 2