Finance Act 2004

238Pension input period

(1)In the case of an arrangement under a registered pension scheme the following are pension input periods—

(a)the period beginning with the relevant commencement date and ending with the earlier of a nominated date and the anniversary of the relevant commencement date, and

(b)each subsequent period beginning immediately after the end of a period which is a pension input period (under paragraph (a) or this paragraph) and ending with the appropriate date.

(2)“The relevant commencement date” means—

(a)in the case of a cash balance arrangement or a defined benefits arrangement, or a hybrid arrangement the only benefits under which may be cash balance benefits or defined benefits, the date on which rights under the arrangement begin to accrue to or in respect of the individual,

(b)in the case of a money purchase arrangement other than a cash balance arrangement, the first date on which a contribution within section 233(1) is made, and

(c)in the case of a hybrid arrangement not within paragraph (a), whichever is the earlier of the date mentioned in that paragraph and the date mentioned in paragraph (b).

(3)“Nominated date” means—

(a)in the case of a money purchase arrangement other than a cash balance arrangement, such date as the individual or scheme administrator nominates, and

(b)in the case of any other arrangement, such date as the scheme administrator nominates.

(4)A nomination for the purposes of subsection (3)—

(a)if by the individual, is to be made by notice to the scheme administrator, and

(b)if by the scheme administrator, is to be made by notice to the individual.

(5)If more than one date is nominated for the purposes of subsection (3)—

(a)in relation to the period beginning with the relevant commencement date, or

(b)in relation to a tax year following that in which the pension input period beginning with that date ends,

the date nominated first is the nominated date.

(6)“The appropriate date” means the earlier of—

(a)a nominated date falling in the tax year immediately after that in which the last pension input period ended, and

(b)the anniversary of the date on which that period ended.

(7)Once the individual has become entitled to all the benefits which may be provided to the individual under an arrangement, the last pension input period in the case of the arrangement is to be treated as having ended when that was first so.