In a recent Upper Tier Tribunal decision, HMRC was permitted to deny tax relief on some in-specie pension contributions via SIPP firms. This is despite the firms winning the case at the First-Tier Tribunal ...
HMRC began challenging SIPP firms in 2016 and at this point, a provider called Sippchoice took them to the First-Tier Tribunal and won the case in 2018. Obviously, HMRC appealed (as it does for the majority of cases awarded against it) and the Upper Tier Tribunal upheld the appeal.
In the tribunal, HMRC argued that in-specie pension contributions really shouldn't receive tax relief. The Judge agreed with this argument on the basis that 'contributions paid' could only mean contributions made in cash. Assets like property and shares weren't 'paid' so shouldn't qualify for tax relief.
However, the Upper Tier Tribunal also agreed that HMRC's pension tax guidance wasn't consistent with the relevant laws and their advice was unclear so it was understandable why SIPP firms were recommending in-specie pension contributions instead of monetary contributions.
The Judge said that, "Statements in HMRC’s manuals are merely HMRC’s interpretation of the law in their internal guidance and they do not have the force of law. We must interpret the legislation in accordance with the principles of construction described above and if we conclude, as we have, that the legislation bears a different meaning to that found in the HMRC manual, the legislation must be preferred."
The Pensions Tax manual was being used in good faith by SIPP firms which set out a detailed procedure to allow assets to be used rather than actual money and tax relief to be applied accordingly.
As always, I recommend seeking professional tax advice before making any in-specie pension contributions.
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