Pension and Taxation

From the UK: 0300 200 3300 (Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 4pm on Saturdays).
If you are calling from abroad: +44 135 535 9022If you are hearing or speech impaired, there is a text phone service: 0300 200 3319

When calling HMRC, you should have your National Insurance number and the Scheme PAYE reference number to hand. The BCSSS PAYE reference number is 428/NCBP

Details can be found at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs

Be sure to include your National Insurance number and the Scheme PAYE reference number when you contact HMRC. The BCSSS PAYE reference number is 428/NCBP

We also have all HMRC contact details in the contact section of the Scheme’s website.

HMRC’s website can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/index.htm

Or you can get general information on how pensions are taxed from the Government’s website www.gov.uk/tax-on-pension

You can write to
HM Revenue & Customs,
Pay As You Earn,
PO Box 1970,
Liverpool L75 1WX

Your first pension payment is taxed using an emergency tax code. Once your first pension payment has been made, details of your pension are sent to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) who then provide the Scheme administrator with the correct tax code to use for future payments.

Overseas pensioners are treated in the same way for their first pension payment and will initially pay tax. If you live overseas and do not think you should pay UK tax please contact HMRC; if they agree they will send the Scheme administrator a revised tax code.

Unfortunately we cannot provide estimates of tax deductions and net pension payments, as these are based on information set and provided by HMRC, outside the Scheme’s control. But the Government’s website gives a good explanation of the principles at www.gov.uk/tax-on-pension

When you get a revised tax code from HMRC, the same information will normally have been sent to the Scheme administrator, who will apply it in the next available payroll.

If the Scheme administrator receives the new code after the payroll cut-off for the month (which can be a couple of weeks before you receive your pension) it will be applied in the following month.

The Scheme administrators can only use tax codes that are provided to them by HMRC. If you are concerned about the code being applied in your case, you should contact HMRC in one of the ways outlined above.

The Scheme administrators will apply the tax code they have received from HMRC and deduct the relevant amount of tax. If tax is not being deducted, it might be that you are earning below the level at which you start to pay tax.

Unfortunately we cannot help with this type of query because HMRC will not discuss an individual’s tax affairs with us, so you have to contact HMRC directly, using one of the contact methods outlined above.

No, pensions are not subject to National Insurance, so National Insurance contributions are not deducted from your pension.

For more information please click here.