Finance Act 2004

267 Lifetime allowance charge

(1) This section applies where the scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme is liable to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of a benefit crystallisation event.

(2) The scheme administrator may apply to the Inland Revenue for the discharge of the scheme administrator’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the benefit crystallisation event on the ground mentioned in subsection (3).

(3) The ground is that—

(a) the scheme administrator reasonably believed that there was no liability to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the benefit crystallisation event, and

(b) in all the circumstances of the case, it would not be just and reasonable for the scheme administrator to be liable to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the benefit crystallisation event.

(4) On receiving an application under subsection (2), the Inland Revenue must decide whether to discharge the scheme administrator’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the benefit crystallisation event.

(5) The scheme administrator may apply to the Inland Revenue for the discharge of part of the scheme administrator’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the benefit crystallisation event on the ground mentioned in subsection (6).

(6) The ground is that—

(a) the scheme administrator reasonably believed that the amount of the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the benefit crystallisation event was less than the actual amount, and

(b) in all the circumstances of the case, it would not be just and reasonable for the scheme administrator to be liable to an amount (“the excess amount”) equal to the difference between the amount which the scheme administrator believed to be the amount of the charge and the actual amount.

(7) On receiving an application under subsection (5), the Inland Revenue must decide whether to discharge the scheme administrator’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of the excess amount (or part of the excess amount).

(8) The discharge of the scheme administrator’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge (or to the excess amount or part of the excess amount) does not affect the liability of any other person to the lifetime allowance charge.

(9) The Inland Revenue must notify the scheme administrator of the decision on an application under this section.

(10) Regulations made by the Board of Inland Revenue may make provision supplementing this section; and the regulations may in particular make provision as to the time limits for the making of an application.