Finance Act 2004

Refund of excess contributions lump sum

6 (1) A lump sum is a refund of excess contributions lump sum if—

(a) it is paid in respect of a tax year in which the excess contributions condition is met in respect of the member, and

(b) it is paid before the end of the period of six years beginning with the last day of the tax year in respect of which it is paid.

(2) But if a lump sum falling within sub-paragraph (1) exceeds the member’s available excess contributions allowance for the tax year in respect of which it is paid, the excess is not a refund of excess contributions lump sum.

(3) The excess contributions condition is met in respect of a member and a tax year if the amount of relievable pension contributions (see section 188(2) and (3)) paid in respect of the member in the tax year exceeds the maximum amount of relief to which the member is entitled for the tax year under section 190 (annual limit for relief).

(4) If no refund of excess contributions lump sum has been paid to the member in respect of a tax year (by any registered pension scheme), the available excess contributions allowance for that tax year is—

RPC - MAR

(5) If one or more refund of excess contributions lump sums have been paid to the member in respect of a tax year, the available excess contributions allowance for that tax year is—

RPC - MAR - ALS

or, if the amount resulting from that calculation is negative, is nil.

(6) In this paragraph—

• RPC is the amount of the relievable pension contributions paid in respect of the member in the tax year,

• MAR is the maximum amount of relief to which the member is entitled for the tax year under section 190, and

• ALS is the aggregate of the refund of excess contributions lump sums previously paid to the member in respect of the tax year.