Do I need to register the scheme?
If your occupational pension scheme was set up on or after 6 April 2006, your scheme needs to be registered so you can get the available tax benefits.
If your scheme already had tax approval on 5 April 2006, then it automatically became registered on 6 April 2006 (unless you’d asked HM Revenue & Customs not to do this) so you don’t need to do anything.
Whose responsibility is it?
As scheme administrator, it’s up to you to register the scheme with HM Revenue & Customs. The scheme provider can’t do it for you.
When do I need to register the scheme?
You should register the scheme as soon as possible, so you can start getting the available tax benefits.
What needs to be done before I can register the scheme?
You need to:
- sign the scheme’s Trust Deed and Rules (we can provide drafts of these)
- register with HM Revenue & Customs Pension Schemes Online service
How do I register with Pension Schemes Online?
Go to www.hmrc.gov.uk and select ‘Pension Schemes’ from the ‘do it online’ section.
To register you’ll need:
- user ID and password
- scheme administrator ID
If you don’t already have a user ID and password, you’ll be directed to the ‘I am a new user’ section. If you already have a scheme administrator ID, you’ll be taken straight to the five-step process for registering with Pension Schemes Online.
If you don’t already have a scheme administrator ID, you’ll have to complete the pre-registration information first. This covers:
- whether you’re a scheme administrator or a practitioner (mandatory) – you should choose ‘scheme administrator’
- whether you’re resident in the UK (mandatory)
- either your own name or the company/organisation name (mandatory)
- your address (mandatory)
- your email address (optional)
- your telephone number (optional)
We'll post a scheme administrator ID to you within five days. Once you get it, you can complete the registration process.
How do I register the pension scheme?
It’s very important that you do this as soon as possible, so the scheme can start getting the available tax benefits.
Once you’ve got your scheme administrator ID:
- log on to www.hmrc.gov.uk
- select ‘Pension Schemes’ from their ‘do it online’ section
- select HM Revenue & Customs' free Pensions Product link or the third-party software link under ‘File your forms and returns’.
If you’re using HM Revenue & Customs' free Pensions Product, select ‘Register new pension scheme’ under ‘Registration’. You’ll be asked to give quite a lot of information, some of which is legally required to register the scheme, particularly if you’re choosing to contract the scheme out of the state second pension at the same time. (You’re unlikely to be applying to operate relief at source, as occupational pension schemes usually deduct contributions on a net pay basis and so don’t need to operate relief at source.) This registration might seem a bit daunting, but there are tips to help you throughout the process, and you only need to fill in the sections that are relevant to your scheme.
To get an idea of the kind of information you’ll be asked for, take a look at HM Revenue & Customs' registration forms on its website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/pensionschemes/registration.htm
You’re most likely to have to complete APSS 100 or APSS 101.
What happens after I’ve submitted my registration?
If your application is successful, HM Revenue & Customs will write to you to acknowledge the registration. This will give the date that the scheme is registered from. The scheme qualifies for tax relief from this date. The acknowledgement will also give the scheme’s Pension Scheme Tax Reference (PSTR) number. This reference is made up of eight digits and two letters. You should tell us your scheme’s PSTR as soon as you get it.
What support is available?
HM Revenue & Customs has published a Registered Pension Scheme Manual. You can download details from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/rpsmmanual. You can also phone the online helpdesk on 0845 6055 999 or email helpdesk@ir-efile.gov.uk
