Scheme Pays

There are two types of Scheme Pays: Mandatory and Voluntary

Mandatory Scheme Pays

Can be used if all three of these apply to you:

• your Pension Input Amount within a single Civil Service Pension Scheme is in excess of £60,000, and
• the tax charge resulting from the excess within that scheme is over £2,000, and
• your Scheme Pays deduction is applied to the benefits within that scheme only

Members with a tapered (reduced) Annual Allowance must have a Pension Input Amount in excess of £60,000 in one particular scheme (for example, alpha or classic) to use Mandatory Scheme Pays.

For members with current benefits in both Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (NI) and alpha, if their Pension Input Amount in each scheme exceeds £60,000 then they may be able to use Mandatory Scheme Pays to pay the tax charge for one scheme. The remaining scheme would be paid on a voluntary basis. This facility would not be available for those with tapered Annual Allowance wishing to use Scheme Pays for their entire tax charge.

Voluntary Scheme Pays

Can be used if:

• you don’t meet the Mandatory Scheme Pays criteria, but you still wish to pay your tax charge by Scheme Pays

Scheme Pays Quote Request Form

If I decide to use Scheme Pays, what are the steps involved?

You’ll need to advise HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This should be done via your self-assessment.

Please note: To prevent late payment charges being imposed by HMRC, regardless of the Scheme Pays method used to pay your tax charge, we encourage you to take note of the Scheme Pays deadlines which can be found in the table below.

Key dates

Action	Deadline date
You receive a Pension Savings Statement	By 6 October 2024
Members request a Scheme Pays quote request form Return to: Civil Service Pensions (NI) Orchard House 40 Foyle Street LONDONDERRY BT48 6AT	By 8 November 2024
We issue you with your Scheme Pays quote	By 6 December 2024
If you decide to go ahead with using Scheme Pays, you should complete and return your Scheme Pays form accepting the quote	By 20 December 2024
We will process your Scheme Pays deductions	By 17 January 2025
You should notify HMRC that you have a tax charge owing and inform them of your intention to pay it using Scheme Pays	By 31 January 2025
If you are using Voluntary Scheme Pays, we'll pay your tax charge	By 31 January 2025
If you are using Mandatory Scheme Pays, we'll pay your tax charge	By 14 February 2026

Please note once we have received your application form, you won't be able to withdraw your application, as at this point we will adjust your benefits accordingly and the tax charge will be paid to HMRC on your behalf. You can use Scheme Pays every year that you have a tax charge to pay if you meet the criteria.  Each time you use Scheme Pays a pension debit entry will be recorded on your pension record and Pensions Increase will be applied annually

Tax is your responsibility

If you do have a tax charge, you’ll need to follow the HMRC guidelines for calculating, declaring and paying any tax due.

There is information about Annual Allowance and Scheme Pays on the HMRC website

HMRC provide a calculator to help you work out if you have a taxable breach. The calculator can be found at: Pension annual allowance calculator

Tapered Annual Allowance

Individuals with adjusted income over £260,000 may be subject to a tapered (reduced) Annual Allowance.

Adjusted income is not based on your salary alone, if you have other sources of income you may need to include this when calculating your adjusted income.

Further information on how to calculate adjusted income and tapered Annual Allowance can be found at: Pension schemes - work out your tapered annual allowance