[an error occurred while processing this directive]
3.7.1 Contributions
- An employee's contributions must not exceed 15% of total emoluments
up to the earnings cap (including benefits in kind). In addition,
it is important to remember that the total of benefits provided,
including those arising from the employee's own contributions, must
not exceed Inland Revenue limits.
- The employer may require employees who join the scheme to contribute
(although he cannot insist that an employee joins the scheme).
- Employee contributions are usually regular, and are often expressed
as a percentage of earnings, but special, one-off contributions
(within the normal limit) qualify for tax relief in the normal way.
- Tax relief is granted through the 'net pay system' i.e. deducted
before other allowances and the operation of the tax code.
|
- Employer contributions
- Employer contributions are not limited directly as a percentage
of earnings of members, but must be reasonable in relation to the
benefits being provided.
- Regular Employer contributions to exempt approved schemes qualify
as an expense in the year of payment only; unlike some expenses
that may be carried back or forward.
- Tax relief on regular contributions may be spread in certain circumstances
e.g. where the scheme member has less than three years to retirement,
or where a regular contribution is reduced or stopped.
- Tax relief on single contributions may be spread by up to 4 years
if the single payment exceeds £500,000, and have to be reported
to the Revenue if over this figure.
- Where the single payment is made to finance cost of living increases
for pensioners, the tax relief will not necessarily be spread.
- Similarly, where a single payment is made to purchase unfunded
past service benefits, and where the payment is no higher than the
regular annual contribution, tax relief is unlikely to be spread
|
|