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Levy

The general levy covers the cost of running:
  • the Pensions Regulator;
  • the Pensions Ombudsman;
  • the legal assistance scheme for the Pensions Regulator Tribunal; and
  • any grants made to advisory bodies.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions sets the rate of the general levy each year.

You might want to take a look at the FAQs related to levy.

Understanding your levy invoice

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions sets the rate of the general levy each year.

The general levy is based on the total number of members in the scheme at the end of the scheme year before last.

You can update your scheme's membership using scheme maintenance in Exchange

Here are some examples:

  • Levy payable on 1 April 2008 would be based on the total number of members in the scheme at the scheme year-end that fell immediately before 1 April 2007.
  • ABC Pension Scheme is a money purchase scheme and is being charged for the 2008 general levy. The membership figure of 600 members was taken as at the scheme year-end prior to 1 April 2007. The rate for this amount of members is 1.80 per member, therefore the total amount due will be 1,080.

The amount to be paid depends on the band which the scheme falls into and may be subject to a minimum amount per band.

To view previous years' bandings, please see the levy archive.

The bands are shown in the table below.

    Occupational schemes Personal/stakeholder/group personal pension schemes
 
Band Number of members General levy Min payment per scheme General levy Min payment per scheme
1 2-11   33    14 
2 12-99 3.35 per member   1.34 per member  
3 100-999 2.42 per member 340  0.94 per member 140
4 1,000-4,999 1.88 per member 2,420  0.81 per member 940 
5 5,000-9,999 1.43 per member 9,400  0.54 per member 4,050 
6 10,000 and over 1.00 per member 14,300 0.41 per member 5,400

The Pensions Regulator collects the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) administration levy on behalf of the PPF. This levy is calculated in the same way as the Pensions Regulator general levy but uses a different banding. The bands for the PPF administration levy are shown in the table below. 

Please note that the Pensions Regulator does not have any involvement in the collection or calculation of the PPF risk and scheme-based levies. 

To query eligibility in respect of payment of any PPF levies, please visit the PPF website.

Band  Number of members Amount of levy calculated by reference to number of members Minimum amount of levy
 1 2-11   42
 2 12-99 4.33 per member  
 3 100-999 3.12 per member 430
 4 1,000-4,999 2.43 per member 3,120
 5 5,000-9,999 1.84 per member 12,150
 6 10,000 and over 1.29 per member 18,400