Use the checklist below to help you gather the scheme information you need from your pension provider before you set up your pension scheme.
Information you need
Details
What type of scheme does your company operate?
This can be GPP, PPP, Stakeholder, or Master Trust. If it's none of these, you can choose Other. Visit our Pension schemes - General information article.
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Is it a qualifying scheme for automatic enrolment?
Your pension provider can tell you if your scheme qualifies.
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Does it use qualifying earnings for pensionable pay?
Using qualifying earnings applies a lower and upper threshold to calculate pensionable pay.
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If it doesn't use qualifying earnings, what pay elements are pensionable?
You need to know which of your pay elements you must include in the pension contribution calculations. For example, you may need to include salary payments, but not overtime or bonuses.
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Is it a salary sacrifice scheme?
Salary sacrifice is where an employee gives up a portion of their salary in return for a non-cash benefit. In this case, the pension contribution provided by the employer. View Salary sacrifice pension schemes article.
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Are the employee and employer contributions based on a fixed amount or percentage?
To enter the settings correctly, it's important that you know whether contributions calculate as a percentage or use a fixed amount.
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What are the amounts or percentage rates for the employee and employer?
Check if contribution rates are the same for all employees, and what rates they're calculated at.
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Are the employee contributions deducted before or after tax?
Employees get tax relief on their pension contributions and this can be one of two arrangements:
Net pay - The contributions deduct before tax calculates. Taxable gross pay reduces by the amount of the pension contribution, meaning the employee doesn't pay tax on their pension contribution
Relief at source - The contributions deduct after tax calculates, and the pension provider claims back the Basic Rate tax paid directly from HMRC
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What is your provider reference?
Pension providers use different terminology for this reference. It's also known as your employer reference.