Guidance

Countdown bulletin 33 - April 2018

Published 16 April 2018

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Multiple periods automated solution

Where an individual has had multiple periods of membership within the same scheme, HMRC may have linked these periods, especially where the memberships start before 1997.

These linked scheme memberships are shown as a continuous period on Scheme Reconciliation Service (SRS) output.

If you would like to confirm that you’ve the same gaps in membership as HMRC, you can get this information from the multiple periods automated solution.

It will provide details of the start and end date of each period that has been linked within the continuous period. If you would like more information on the multiple period auto solution, email pat.dryden@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk to get a copy of the solution summary document.

Phase 6 of SRS automation

Phase 6 of SRS automation runs from February to August 2018.

You’ll have received a plan by email on the 31 January 2018 giving you the dates of existing re-runnable solutions.

In addition to re-runnable solutions, we’re investigating 6 new automated solutions.

The following solutions are confirmed for the first half of phase 6

  • Contribution Equivalent Premium (CEP) debit - this solution will debit CEP and record liability in scheme
  • CEP For Part Period - this solution will debit a continuous period and record a CEP for the first part of the period and liability in the scheme for the second

It’s expected that the responses from these solutions will be available from June 2018 to July 2018 and any queries received before then will be side-lined. We’ll give you more information as it becomes available.

Your feedback on the new phase 6 New Solutions

If you’ve any feedback on the potential automated solutions we’re considering in the second part of phase 6 email pat.dryden@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

Scheme cessation reminders

We’re still working to clear all of the scheme cessation files by the end of December 2018. We’re also looking to see what SRS auto solutions we can use to assist with this.

Also scheme cessation are receiving enquiries from administrators asking if they need to surrender their certificate due to the end of contracting-out on 5 April 2016. This is a reminder that the end of contracted-out does not mean that your scheme has ceased.

Refund for SRS queries

When an SRS query results in the refund of a Limited Revaluation Premium (LRP) or CEP, HMRC can only refund receipts that contain a National Insurance number.

If the LRP or CEP receipt was from a bulk scheme level receipt that hasn’t been broken down to National Insurance number level, we can’t perform the refund.

These refunds will be processed by the Scheme Financial Reconciliation exercise if the scheme has an overall surplus position.

Read pension schemes reconciliation services for more information.

Earlier editions of the National Insurance Services to Pension industry: countdown bulletins are also available.

Contact details

For general queries about contracted-out pensions contact the helpline on Telephone: 0300 200 3507.

Continue to deal with your usual contracted-out pensions contact for your day to day enquiries.

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