Taxation logo taxation mission text

Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration

Upper Tribunal decision on surcharges on pension withdrawals

09 June 2020 / Constantine Christofi , Harry Winter
Issue: 4747 / Categories: Comment & Analysis
22164
La bella figura

Key points

  • A registered pension scheme made a loan to a connected separate company.
  • The loan was an unauthorised employer payment and a scheme chargeable payment.
  • The nature of the payment gave rise to three separate tax charges under FA 2004.
  • Did TMA 1970 s 29 allow HMRC to make discovery assessments?
  • A six-year window was available if the company had been careless.
  • The charges could be set aside if the ‘just and reasonable’ condition was satisfied.

The decision of the Upper Tribunal in Bella Figura [2020] UKUT 0120 (TCC) concerned some relatively niche pension provisions but it casts important light on issues that apply much more widely across the tax code. Let us start with a look at the case itself.

 

The facts

Bella Figura Limited (BFL) was both the ‘sponsoring employer’ and ‘scheme administrator’ of the Bella Figura Pension Scheme which was a registered pension scheme....

If you or your firm subscribes to Taxation.co.uk, please click the login box below:

If you are not a subscriber but are a registered user or have a free trial, please enter your details in the following boxes:

Alternatively, you can register free of charge to read a limited amount of subscriber content per month.
Once you have registered, you will receive an email directing you back to read this item in full.

Please reach out to customer services at +44 (0) 330 161 1234 or 'customer.services@lexisnexis.co.uk' for further assistance.

back to top icon