Pay tax as a pension scheme administrator
How to pay charges on payments from registered pension schemes and how long it takes for your payment to reach HMRC.
As a pension scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme you must send pension scheme reports and pay tax charges to HMRC.
A payment must meet specific conditions for it to be authorised. If it does not, it will be an unauthorised payment.
Read guidance on how to deal with charges arising from an unauthorised payment.
When to pay
You must submit your return or event report and pay any tax within 45 calendar days of the end of the tax period.
If a reportable event occurs within a tax year, you must submit your event report by 31 January following the end of the tax year when the event occurred.
If a scheme has been wound up you must submit the event report within 3 months of the date the scheme wound up or by the 31 January deadline, whichever is earlier.
If the deadline is on a weekend or bank holiday, make sure your payment reaches HMRC by the end of the previous working day.
If you do not pay by the deadline, you may need to pay a penalty, interest or both.
What you need
You need your 14-character reference number starting with X.
You can find this:
- on your online receipt if you submit your return through the pension schemes online service
- in the ‘payments and charges’ screen for each return submitted through the managing pension schemes service
If you use an incorrect reference number there will be a delay in the payment being allocated correctly.
Pay online
You can pay online using one of the following methods:
- approve a payment through your online bank account
- debit or corporate credit card
Paying online through your bank account
You can pay by approving a payment through your online bank account by selecting the ‘pay by bank account’ option.
You will be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your payment.
You will need to have your online banking details to hand to pay this way.
The payment is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account.
Paying by debit or corporate credit card
You can make a full payment online using a debit or corporate credit card. There is a non-refundable fee if you use a corporate credit or debit card. You cannot pay by personal credit card.
Your payment will be accepted on the date you make it and not the date it reaches HMRC’s account (including weekends and bank holidays).
You must make sure the details you enter match those held by your bank or card provider. For example, the billing address should match the one your card is currently registered with.
Pay by bank transfer
If you pay by CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System) or Faster Payments, your payment will be received on the same or next working day.
If you pay by Bacs (Bankers Automated Clearing System), allow 3 working days for the payment to reach HMRC.
We recommend you check your bank’s processing times and maximum transaction limits before you pay.
Account details to use if your account is in the UK
Use the following details to make a payment if your account is in the UK:
- sort code — 08 32 10
- account number — 12001020
- account name — HMRC Shipley
Account details to use if your account is overseas
Use the following details to make a payment if your account is overseas:
- account number (IBAN) — GB03 BARC 2011 4783 9776 92
- Business Identifier Code (BIC) — BARCGB22
- account name — HMRC Shipley
You must make all payments in pound sterling. Your bank may charge you if you use any other currency.
If needed, you can provide your bank with the following HMRC banking address:
Barclays Bank plc
1 Churchill Place
London
United Kingdom
E14 5HP
If you’re the manager of an overseas pension scheme you should contact HMRC before paying the overseas transfers charge.
The Government Banking Service
Employers such as government departments and health authorities who have a Government Banking Service account can pay using the Government Banking Service online service.
If you enter HMRC’s Government Banking Service account details incorrectly there may be a delay updating your record, or your payment may not reach HMRC.
As long as you make a payment by the Government Banking Service deadline it will reach HMRC on the same day.
Pay at your bank or building society
You can make payment at your own branch, by cheque or cash.
Make sure you:
- use the paying-in slip sent by HMRC
- make the cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ and write your reference number on the back
HMRC will accept your payment on the date you make it, and not the date it reaches their account, if you pay between Monday to Friday.
If you do not have a paying-in slip
You will need to make payment by using another method.
Pay by cheque
Allow 3 working days for your payment to reach HMRC.
Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ and write your reference number on the back.
Do not fold the cheque or attach it to other papers.
You can include a letter to ask for a receipt.
Send your cheque to:
HM Revenue and Customs
Direct
BX5 5BD
Updates to this page
Published 30 October 2014Last updated 27 May 2022 + show all updates
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Information about approving a payment through your online bank account has been added.
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Added translation
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Information about how to make a payment following the submission of an event report has been updated.
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Information about a non-refundable fee for corporate debit cards has been updated.
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Where to find a charge reference on the Managing Pension Scheme service and using a charge reference when making a payment on account has been updated.
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Information about a non-refundable fee for corporate debit cards being introduced from the 1 November 2020 has been added.
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Information about contacting us for a charge reference and when using your pension scheme tax reference (PSTR) to make a payment has been added.
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Welsh translation has been added.
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Sections about reporting and making payments on charges arising from your Accounting for Tax Return or Event and what reference to use if you’re making a payment, have been added to the guidance.
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Guidance on paying by cheque through the post has been updated.
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Guide updated to show payments can't be made with a personal credit card.
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Payments can no longer be made at a Post Office.
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Guidance updated to show it won't be possible to make a payment with a personal credit card from 13 January 2018.
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Guidance updated to show it won't be possible to pay at the Post Office from 15 December 2017.
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Information about payments at a Post Office from December 2017 has been added to the guide.
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Change of address for ordering payslips.
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Guidance has been updated to advise that all Post Offices don't accept payment by cheque.
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Credit card fees have changed.
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Overseas payment details updated.
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The pay by cheque through the post address has changed to HM Revenue and Customs, Direct, BX5 5BD.
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Notification that from 1 January 2016 changes will be introduced to limit the number of credit and debit card payments that can be made to any single tax regime within a given period.
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The online debit or credit card non-refundable fee has been increased to 1.5%.
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HMRC have launched a new payment service - you may be directed to WorldPay if you pay online by debit or credit card. The new service uses a different service provider to BillPay.
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Pension scheme administrators can pay tax owing to HM Revenue and Customs at the Post Office (up to a maximum of £10,000)
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First published.