GPs have been given extra time this year to submit their annual pension forms used for checking that all payments into their NHS pension scheme are correct.
The cut-off date for submission of pension end of year forms covering the period 2022/23 is 31 March 2024. Usually these are due each year at the end of February.
This deadline applies to both Type 1 annual certificates, which need to be completed by GP and non-GP practice-based partners, and Type 2 self-assessment forms for completion by salaried and solo GPs. GPs that only do locum work are not required to file either form.
The paperwork is required so NHS England can make sure that all NHS pension contributions have been correctly paid, by both the member and their employers, and allocated correctly to the person’s NHS Pension Scheme record.
This year’s deadline for the forms has been extended because of changes that were made to employee contribution tier rates half way through 2022/23, as part of wider reforms to the NHS pension scheme.
Primary Care Support England (PCSE) explained that this created the need to apportion pensionable earnings between two separate periods:
- 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022 and;
- 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Regulations state that these two periods must be annualised separately, PCSE has said. The tiered employee contribution rates for each six month period are shown separately on the 2022/23 Type 1 and Type 2 forms.
Those wanting to complete the forms via PCSE online could do so from this week. Using this method means an individual’s details and contributions are automatically filled in, it says.
Those that cannot use PCSE online can download the relevant forms from the NHS Pensions website here to fill in manually. Guidance to accompany the forms on their website can also be accessed here.
A version of this story was first published by Pulse’s sister title Management in Practice
