Finance Act 2004

169Recognised transfersU.K.

(1)A “recognised transfer” is a transfer of sums or assets held for the purposes of, or representing accrued rights under, a registered pension scheme so as to become held for the purposes of, or to represent rights under—

(a)another registered pension scheme, or

(b)a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme,

in connection with a member of that pension scheme.

[F1(1A)A transfer of sums or assets held for the purposes of, or representing accrued rights under, a registered pension scheme to an insurance company is to be treated as a recognised transfer if the sums or assets had been applied by the pension scheme towards the provision of a scheme pension or a dependants' scheme pension (but subject to regulations under subsections (1B) and (1C)).

(1B)The Board of Inland Revenue may by regulations provide that, where any of the sums or assets transferred represent rights in respect of a scheme pension to which a member of a registered pension scheme has become entitled (“the original scheme pension”)—

(a)the transfer is not a recognised transfer unless those sums and assets are, after the transfer, applied towards the provision of a scheme pension (a “new scheme pension”), and

(b)if they are so applied, the new scheme pension is to be treated, to such extent as is prescribed by the regulations and for such of the purposes of this Part as are so prescribed, as if it were the original scheme pension.

(1C)The Board of Inland Revenue may by regulations provide that, where any of the sums or assets transferred represent rights in respect of a dependants' scheme pension to which a dependant of a member of a registered pension scheme has become entitled in respect of the member (“the original dependants' scheme pension”)—

(a)the transfer is not a recognised transfer unless those sums and assets are, after the transfer, applied towards the provision of a dependants' scheme pension (a “new dependants' scheme pension”), and

(b)if they are so applied, the new dependants' scheme pension is to be treated, to such extent as is prescribed by the regulations and for such of the purposes of this Part as are so prescribed, as if it were the original dependants' scheme pension.

(1D)The Board of Inland Revenue may by regulations provide that, where any of the sums or assets transferred represent—

(a)a [F2member's drawdown pension fund or dependant's drawdown pension fund] , F3...

F3(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

under an arrangement (“the old arrangement”), the transfer is not a recognised transfer unless all of those sums and assets become held under an arrangement under which no other sums or assets are held (“the new arrangement”).

(1E)If regulations so provide they may make in relation to cases in which the sums and assets become so held provision as to the treatment for the purposes of any provision of this Part of—

(a)the sums and assets transferred, and

(b)the new arrangement,

including provision for treating the sums and assets transferred as remaining, to such extent as is prescribed by the regulations and for such of the purposes of this Part as are so prescribed, sums and assets held under the old arrangement.]

(2)For the purposes of this Part a recognised overseas pension scheme is a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme if—

(a)the scheme manager has given to the Inland Revenue notification that it is a recognised overseas pension scheme and has provided any such evidence that it is a recognised overseas pension scheme as the Inland Revenue may require,

(b)the scheme manager has undertaken to the Inland Revenue to inform the Inland Revenue if it ceases to be a recognised overseas pension scheme,

(c)the scheme manager has undertaken to the Inland Revenue to comply with [F4any requirements imposed under subsection (4)], and

(d)the recognised overseas pension scheme is not excluded from being a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme by subsection (5).

(3)In this Part “scheme manager”, in relation to a pension scheme, means the person or persons administering, or responsible for the management of, the pension scheme.

[F5(4)Regulations may require the scheme manager of a QROPS or former QROPS to—

(a)give the Commissioners information of a prescribed description,

(b)give the Commissioners such evidence as they may require of a prescribed matter, and

(c)give a prescribed authority, in prescribed circumstances, information of a prescribed description.

(4A)Regulations under subsection (4) may make provision as to—

(a)the way and form in which information or evidence is to be given, and

(b)the times or intervals at which information or evidence is to be given.

(4B)The regulations may apply any provision of Part 7 of Schedule 36 to FA 2008 (penalties), with or without modifications, in relation to requirements imposed under the regulations on a former QROPS.]

(5)A recognised overseas pension scheme is excluded from being a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme by this subsection if [F6the Commissioners have] decided that—

(a)[F7any of the following conditions is met in relation to the scheme—

(i)there has been a failure to comply with a relevant requirement and the failure is significant,

(ii)any information given pursuant to a relevant requirement is incorrect in a material respect,

(iii)any declaration given pursuant to a relevant requirement is false in a material respect,

(iv)there is no scheme manager,] and

(b)by reason of [F8that condition being met] it is not appropriate that transfers of sums or assets held for the purposes of, or representing accrued rights under, registered pension schemes so as to become held for the purposes of, or to represent rights under, the recognised overseas pension scheme should be recognised transfers,

and has notified the person or persons appearing to be the scheme manager of that decision (but subject to subsection (7) and section 170).

[F9(6)A failure to comply with a requirement is significant if—

(a)it is a failure to give information or evidence that is (or may be) of significance, or

(b)there are reasonable grounds for believing that the failure prejudices (or might prejudice) the assessment or collection of tax by the Commissioners.]

(7)The Inland Revenue—

(a)may at any time after a recognised overseas pension scheme becomes excluded from being a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme decide that the pension scheme is to cease to be so excluded, and

(b)must notify the scheme manager of the decision.

[F10(8)In subsections (4) to (6) and this subsection—

• “the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;

• “QROPS” means a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme, and “former QROPS” means a scheme that has at any time been a QROPS;

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Commissioners;

• “relevant requirement” means—

  (a)

  a requirement imposed by regulations under subsection (4), or

  (b)

  a requirement imposed by virtue of Part 1 of Schedule 36 to FA 2008 (powers to obtain information and documents).]