UPDATED: Government mulls salary sacrifice restrictions

Jonathan Stapleton
clock • 2 min read

Budget documents reveal the government is looking to clamp down on the range of benefits available under salary sacrifice arrangements.

In the documents published alongside George Osborne's (pictured) budget today, HM Treasury said salary sacrifice arrangements enable employees to give up salary in return for benefits-in-kind that are often subject to more favourable tax treatment than salary.

It said it wants to encourage employers to offer certain benefits but is concerned about the growth of salary sacrifice schemes - noting that clearance requests for salary sacrifice arrangements from employers to HMRC have increased by over 30% since 2010.

HM Treasury said it was therefore considering limiting the range of benefits that attract income tax and NICs advantages when they are provided as part of salary sacrifice schemes.

But it said the government's intention is that pension saving, childcare and health-related benefits such as Cycle to Work should continue to benefit from income tax and NICs relief when provided through salary sacrifice arrangements.

PwC employment tax partner John Harding commented: "This announcement is not a surprise as HMRC has been looking at salary sacrifice with increased interest over the past year.

"While the devil will be in the detail it's clear that when it comes to salary sacrifice HMRC take a view that there is a 'good, the bad and the ugly'. Employers will be delighted to see that pension savings, childcare and cycle to work are clearly in the category of the 'good' salary sacrifices.

"However, we are suggesting that employers with wider salary sacrifice arrangements and flexible benefit schemes take the time now to review what they are offering to ensure that the benefits do not fall into HMRC's 'bad' salary sacrifices and that they continue to operate as intended and are not deemed 'ugly' by HMRC."

Aegon head of pensions Kate Smith welcomed the Chancellor's decision to rule out changes to salary sacrifice arrangements on pensions - noting such a move could have put pressure on the generosity of employer pension contributions

She said: "Removing or limiting the NI exemption on employers contributions would have been a blow to pension saving and could undermine the future success of automatic enrolment.

"It would increase employers' costs, and makes salary sacrifice arrangements less attractive, with the possibility of employers no longer offering employees this option. Employers and employees may react by saving less in a pension and failing to achieve the retirement income they aspire to. So its good news that the Chancellor has ruled out changes to salary sacrifice."

 

More on Law and Regulation

SPP: Build it and they will come? Considering the case for multi-employer CDC

SPP: Build it and they will come? Considering the case for multi-employer CDC

John Wilson asks if sponsoring employers are ready to make the move to CDC

John Wilson
clock 26 November 2024 • 3 min read
Budget IHT move a 'major adverse change' to the tax treatment of UK schemes

Budget IHT move a 'major adverse change' to the tax treatment of UK schemes

Fieldfisher calls for clarification over scope of death benefits subject to new regime

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 31 October 2024 • 2 min read
List: The DC and DB benefits being targeted for IHT purposes from 2027

List: The DC and DB benefits being targeted for IHT purposes from 2027

Treasury docs reveal the extent of plans to include pension death benefits in IHT regime

Professional Pensions
clock 30 October 2024 • 1 min read
Trustpilot