The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009

Notice of specified amount and certificate when repayments not deducted

56.—(1) This regulation applies where, after 17 days following the end of any income tax period, the employer has paid no amount in respect of student loan repayments to HMRC under regulation 54 for that income tax period and there is reason to believe that the employer is liable to pay such repayments.

(2) Where this regulation applies, HMRC upon consideration of the employer’s record of past payments, whether of student loan repayments or of combined amounts, may to the best of its judgment specify the amount in respect of student loan repayments or of a combined amount which it considers the employer is liable to pay, and serve notice on the employer of that amount.

(3) Where the employer has paid no amount under regulation 54 for the relevant income tax periods, HMRC may give a notice under paragraph (2) which extends to two or more consecutive income tax periods and these Regulations have effect as if those income tax periods were the latest income tax period specified in the notice.

(4) HMRC may give a notice under paragraph (2) even if an amount in respect of student loan repayments has been paid to it by the employer under regulation 54 for any income tax period, if HMRC is not satisfied, having sought the employer’s explanation, that the amount paid is the full amount which the employer is liable to pay to it for that income tax period and this regulation will apply to the amount specified.

(5) If the employer claims during the period allowed in a notice given under paragraph (2) that the payment made in respect of the income tax period specified is, or includes, the full amount of student loan repayments which the employer is liable to pay to HMRC for that period, but does not satisfy HMRC of this, then—

(a) the employer may require HMRC to inspect the employer’s documents and records as if an officer of Revenue and Customs had called upon the employer to produce those documents and records in accordance with regulation 60; and

(b) regulation 60 applies to that inspection and the notice given by HMRC under paragraph (2) is to be disregarded.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7), if the specified amount, or any part of it, is unpaid on the expiration of the period of seven days allowed in the notice, the amount unpaid—

(a) is deemed to be an amount in respect of student loan repayments or to include an amount in respect of student loan repayments which the employer was liable to pay for that income tax period in accordance with regulation 54, and

(b) may be certified by HMRC.

(7) Paragraph (6) does not apply if during the period allowed in the notice—

(a) the full amount which the employer is liable to pay to HMRC for that income tax period is paid, or

(b) the employer satisfies HMRC that no amount, or no further amount, is due for that income tax period.

(8) The production of a certificate under paragraph (6) is sufficient evidence that the employer is liable to pay the amount shown in the certificate to HMRC.

(9) Any document purporting to be a certificate under paragraph (6) is deemed to be such a certificate until the contrary is proved.

(10) Despite any other provision of this regulation, if an employer pays any amount certified by HMRC under this regulation and that amount exceeds the amount which the employer would have been liable to pay in respect of that income tax period apart from this regulation, the employer is entitled to set off such excess payment against any amount which the employer is liable to pay to HMRC under regulation 54 for any subsequent income tax period.

(11) If the employer renders the return required by regulation 59 after the end of the tax year and pays the total net amount in respect of student loan repayments which the employer is liable to pay, any excess amount paid and not otherwise recovered by set-off in accordance with this regulation is to be repaid.