Staging Date 1st April 2017

pollyanna24

My boss has received a letter saying his staging date is 1st April 2017 (I am his only employee, paid through PAYE).

He already contributed into a private pension I set up a few years ago as his payroll told him that would the simplest thing to do.

Will he still have to set up a workplace pension scheme even though he already pays into my private pension or just notify The Pensions Regulator?

I have a monthly direct debit (over what the minimum I have to pay) going into the pension, but my boss pays the 1% that he would have to pay under the new rules.

Tcquins

Hi Polly,

if the private pension you have set up already doesn't qualify as a QWPS (a qualifying workplace pension scheme), and i suspect it doesnt as it sounds like a SIPP, then there's a couple of options to consider.

He could set up NEST, which is free, then you could simply opt-out of it, and then he could continue contributing to your private pension. Its a bit of a faff- he has to complete the declaration of compliance etc.

You should also bear in mind that he's obligated under auto-enrolment rules to increase the employer contribution to the levels set by the government, but not if you opt out; then its dictated by your contract.

Or he could contribute to both schemes or just the NEST scheme if you remained in it.