Guidance

Newsletter 169 — April 2025

Published 24 April 2025

Pension scheme return (PSR)

Pension scheme administrators and practitioners can now use the Managing pension schemes service (MPS) to create, compile and submit their PSR, for the 2024 to 2025 tax year onwards.

You can read more about the launch of the PSR in newsletter 168.

If your pension scheme has a Pension Scheme Tax Reference (PSTR) beginning with 0, and you have not already done so, you will need to migrate your pension schemes to the Managing pension schemes service.

This is so you can compile and submit your PSR.

Bulk reporting for the standard and Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) PSR

For a pension scheme that needs a standard (non-SIPP) return, you’ll have the option to bulk upload the member details by CSV file. The XLSX file template will be available on MPS for you to complete and upload.

All other sections of the standard (non-SIPP) return need completing manually on MPS.

For a pension scheme that needs a Self Invested Personal Pension PSR, you need to upload member details and asset data by CSV file only. You cannot do any of this manually for the Self Invested Personal Pension PSR.

The XLSX file templates are available on MPS. You need to complete a different XLSX file for each asset type.

Do not amend, remove or re-format the first or second row on the template once you have downloaded them. The upload will not work if you amend them.

After completing the templates, you must save and upload them as CSV files.

Migrate your pension schemes

Migrating your pension schemes to MPS allows you to check:

• all your schemes in one place

• any changes

• submitted information

• details of payments and charges

There will be a list of your open pension schemes registered on the Pension schemes online service on MPS before you migrate.

To access this list of schemes, you need to enrol on the Managing pension schemes service.

Once enrolled, you must select:

• ‘Add a pension scheme from the Pension schemes online service’

• each scheme you need to migrate

Do not select ‘Apply to register a new pension scheme.’

Only pension schemes with a status of ‘open’ on the Pension schemes online service will be on your list of schemes to migrate. If there are schemes on your list that are inactive and should be wound up, email: migration.mps@hmrc.gov.uk and put ‘Managing pension schemes — Wound Up Schemes’ in the subject line for support.

Incorrect re-registrations

If you incorrectly tried to re-register an existing pension scheme you’re an administrator for, email: migration.mps@hmrc.gov.uk and put ‘Incorrect scheme registration’ in the subject line for support.

Relief at source

Annual return of information for 2024 to 2025 tax year

The deadline for submitting the 2024 to 2025 annual return of information is 5 July 2025. If you do not submit this on time, it may delay payment of:

• interim claims for the tax month ending 5 July 2025

• any claims for later months until we receive your annual return of information

You must make sure you submit the Pension scheme administrator declaration: annual return of information.

This forms part of your return. Without it, your return will not process.

You can either:

• send the APSS590 annual return of information declaration by post

• email the APSS590 annual return of information to reliefatsource.administration@hmrc.gov.uk with ‘APSS590 Annual return of information declaration’ in the subject line

If you submit your annual return of information but it does not process, we will:

• still consider this to be outstanding

• stop any later interim repayment claims until we receive a re-submission

If on the third submission it still does not process, we will stop all future interim claims until we receive a further re-submission that is considered successful.

Completing and submitting the annual return of information

To make sure we can process your annual return of information, you must use the versions of the spreadsheet and electronic flat text file specifications that are currently on GOV.UK. Do not use a version that you’ve saved from a previous tax year.

If you’re submitting an annual return of information for the 2024 to 2025 tax year, you must use the:

• 2019 version of the relief at source spreadsheet

• 2019 version of the electronic flat text file specifications

It is important to make sure:

• you use the correct naming convention when you submit your annual return via the Secure Data Exchange Service

• the file name reference matches the sub reference included in the return

Details of how to name your files are in the relief at source spreadsheet and electronic flat text file specifications.

When you send in your annual return of information, make sure:

• all fields are completed in the correct format

• not to include unacceptable characters

• you do not go over the maximum number of characters

The correct structured format for submitting data on your annual return of information can be found on ‘How to complete your annual return of information for pension schemes operating relief at source’.

It is important to submit your return in the correct format as:

• your file may not process

• your file could be rejected

• it could mean you do not get a residency status report for your members

You can only submit your 2024 to 2025 annual return of information through the Secure Data Exchange Service (SDES).

Lifetime allowance protections and enhancements

Fixed protection 2016 and individual protection 2016

The application deadline for both fixed protection 2016 and individual protection 2016 has now passed. Individuals can no longer apply for either protection online.

An individual can still report a change to their pension. They’ll need to:

• sign in to their Government Gateway with the details they used when they applied

• select the ‘pensions’ option

If they did not apply to protect their pension savings online, they should tell HMRC in writing.

HMRC will write to them to let them know how it affects their protection.

International and pension credit enhancements

The application deadline for both international and pension credit enhancements has now passed. Individuals can no longer apply for either enhancement online.

If an individual needs to amend their enhancement, they can use these forms:

• APSS201 for an amendment to a pension credit enhancement

• APSS202 for an amendment to an international enhancement

Application deadlines can be found at Finance Act 2024 – Paragraph 94, within part 4, schedule 9.

Authenticated look up service

In newsletter 166, we let you know that in late 2025 we will be moving the current protection look-up service to MPS.

The service will be authenticated as it will require pension scheme administrators and practitioners to sign in using their credentials

The updated service will allow us to provide additional information to registered pension scheme administrators and practitioners, when checking whether the protection or enhancement that a member is relying on is valid for a:

• higher lump sum allowance

• lump sum and death benefit allowance

Later this year, we’ll be asking you to help us develop this feature. If you would like to be involved, email pensionsuserresearchrecruitment@hmrc.gov.uk and put ‘look up service’ in the subject line.

Check your pension protections service

From the 6 April, the service where individuals can currently check whether their protection is valid through their personal tax account, has been renamed to ‘Check your pension protections’.

In late 2025, we plan to introduce enhancements to this service, and we will provide further details on this in future newsletters.

Qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes (QROPS)

Aligning the treatment of transfers to overseas pension schemes (OPS) and recognised overseas pension schemes (ROPS) established in the European Economic Area (EEA)

On 6 April 2025, the conditions that schemes established in the EEA need to meet to be an OPS and ROPS, were brought in line with the conditions that must be met by schemes established in the rest of the world.

We have written to scheme managers of QROPS in the EEA asking them to confirm that they meet these conditions. We mentioned this in newsletter 167.

The deadline to confirm that they meet these conditions is 7 May 2025.

If we do not receive replies by this date, those schemes will no longer be a QROPS. 

Pension flexibility statistics

HMRC can now give more information on the number of tax repayment claim forms processed for pension flexibility payments.

 From 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025, we processed:

• P55 — 9,694 forms

• P53Z — 4,409 forms

• P50Z — 1,171 forms

Total value repaid: £44,003,977.

The tax repayment figures for the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 will be published in pensions schemes newsletter ― July 2025.

Registration statistics

For 2024 to 2025, HMRC received 1,917 applications to register new pension schemes.

Of these schemes, 60% have been registered and we have refused registration for 26% of applications. No decision has been made on the remainder yet.

User Research

We are looking for volunteers to provide feedback on these areas that will sit on MPS:

• Lifetime allowance protection look up service

• APSS262 overseas transfer form

• Pension Scheme Return

If you’re interested in taking part in a user research session in the near future, email pensionsuserresearchrecruitment@hmrc.gov.uk, outlining which one of the areas you would like to give feedback on.

By taking part in user research, you will have the opportunity to have a one-to-one interview with one of our researchers and test prototypes for the areas mentioned.