BB/15A/05 VAT—recovery of input tax by employers in respect of funded pension schemes—the 30/70 split
Business Brief, Issue 15. 9 August 2005
This Business Brief clarifies the rules relating to recovery of input tax by employers who provide funded pension schemes for their staff and, in particular, sets out the correct application of the rule commonly known as the 30/70 split. This is to address increasing HMRC concerns that businesses are applying the 30/70 split more generously than is intended and recovering input tax to which they are not entitled. The new arrangements will come into effect from 1 October 2005.
Background
An employer usually establishes a funded pension scheme under a trust deed and, in consequence, the business activities of the fund are separate from those of the employer. Where trustees of a pension fund are carrying on taxable business activities, they are liable or entitled to register for VAT, although they normally have to restrict their input tax deduction because they usually make mainly exempt supplies. HMRC accepts that employers establish pension schemes for business purposes and that VAT on expenditure relating to management, or what can also be termed administration, of the pension scheme is their input tax. Correct attribution of the services between employer and trustees is essential—just as it is in any situation where both exempt and taxable supplies are made.
VAT