CH23990 - Information & Inspection Powers: Information Notices: Identity unknown notice: Notice relating to a pensions matter
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-22)


A ‘pensions matter’ is any matter relating to
- a registered pension scheme
- an annuity purchased with sums or assets held for the purpose of a registered pension scheme
- an employer-financed retirement benefits scheme
- a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme (QROPS) or former QROPS
- an annuity purchased with sums or assets held for the purposes of a QROPS or former QROPS.
Some of the rules for an identity unknown notice in CH23900 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch23900), are different where the notice is for the purpose of checking the tax position of a person or a class of persons only regarding a pensions matter.

The differences are
- You do not need the approval of the tribunal.
- The recipient can appeal against the notice on any grounds, except where the requirement is to produce the recipient’s statutory records.
An additional difference for an identity unknown notice in relation to QROPS, or former QROPS, is that 'old documents', see CH22140 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch22140), is extended from 6 years to 10 years.

If you decide to seek tribunal approval, you must follow the guidance at CH24160 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch24160). There is no right of appeal against a tribunal approved notice.

For an identity unknown notice for information or documents that relate to a pensions matter
- if the pensions matter relates to a registered pension scheme or annuity purchased with sums or assets held for the purpose of a registered pension scheme, you must give a copy of the notice to the scheme administrator
- if the pensions matter relates to an employer-financed retirement benefits scheme, you must give a copy of the notice to the responsible person (see definition below) in relation to the employer-financed retirement benefits scheme, and
- if the pension matter relates to QROPS or former QROPS, or an annuity purchased with sums or assets held for the purpose of a QROPS or former QROPS, give a copy of the notice to the scheme manager (as defined in Section 169(3) of FA 2004).
unless you give the notice to a person who, in relation to the scheme or annuity to which the notice relates, is a ‘prescribed description of person’ (again see definition below).

A ‘responsible person’ in relation to an employer-financed retirement benefits scheme is the first person identified by using the following tests in order:
- If there are one or more trustees of the scheme who are resident in the UK, that trustee or each of those trustees,
- If there are one or more persons who control the management of the scheme, that person or each of those persons,
- If alive or still in existence, the employer, or any of the employers, who established the scheme and any person by whom that employer, or any of those employers, has been directly or indirectly succeeded in relation to the provision of benefits under the scheme,
- Any employer of employees to or in respect of whom benefits are, or are to be, provided under the scheme, and
- If there are one or more trustees of the scheme who are not resident in the UK, that trustee or each of those trustees.
A prescribed description of person is
- for a registered pension scheme, any person who is, or at any time during the relevant period has been
- the scheme administrator
- a trustee of the scheme
- a sponsoring employer in relation to the scheme or
- a member of the scheme.
- for an annuity purchased with sums or assets held for the purposes of a registered pension scheme
- the insurance company or other person from whom the annuity has been purchased.
- for an employer-financed retirement benefits scheme
- in relation to the coming into operation of the scheme, the responsible person at the time the scheme comes into operation
- in relation to the provision of benefits, the responsible person at the time the notice is issued.
FA08/SCH36/PARA34B

FA08/SCH36/PARA34C

SI 2005/3455