Annual Returns
- What are Annual Returns?
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Annual Returns is a spreadsheet for you, as an Employer, to complete. It details each member of the pension scheme you have had over the last year and their pay information details.
It is particularly important that you are up to date with starter and leaver forms and if you believe that any are missing before you submit your Return, please ensure these are sent to us beforehand.
Every three years, we provide the Fund Actuary with data for the triennial valuation. They use the information provided on the Annual Returns to complete the valuation of the Fund; this also determines Employer contribution rates payable. It is therefore essential that the information we receive is accurate and up to date.
We offer a number of training resources and sessions for scheme employers and payroll providers, to help prepare and complete their annual return submissions each year. A video run-through of how to complete the annual returns template is hosted on this page, while details of other sessions can be found on the Employer training.
The following video provides a tutorial showing how to complete Hampshire Pension Services' annual return template: Annual Return tutorial video (Vimeo)
- Annual Return example template
- Deadlines
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All returns must be completed and sent to us by April 30 each year and we ask that a response to queries raised are completed as soon as possible but no later than within two weeks of these being sent.
- Annual Returns Process
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1. Reconciliation
If the amounts paid over do not match the annual return this will then be queried with the employer to resolve.
Initial checks on annual return data made.2. Processing of the annual return
Once reconciled the annual return will be processed.
Any information incorrect or incomplete will be queried with the employer.
Any forms or data missing will be queried with the employer.3. Queries
Queries will be emailed to the employer using a 'query template'.
Employer should complete the template and return to us by email, along with any forms.
- Annual timetable
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31 March - Annual returns to be sent to employers by email
30 April - Annual returns to be completed by employer returned to Hampshire Pension Services by email
15 May - All returns must be reconciled
30 April - 15 June - Annual returns uploaded and queries sent, resolved by employer and CARE revaluation run
30 June - 15 July - Running Valuation
15 July - Data passed to Fund Actuary
31 August - Annual Benefit Statements produced and available to view
- Benchmarking
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As part of the Annual Return process, we benchmark all scheme employers on a 'red', 'amber' and 'green' basis for the timeliness of the Return, the financial control (the Return balancing with what has been paid) and data quality in line with the active membership VS queries.
Please note: ratings are based on the data on the annual return.
Green Amber Red Timeliness Return received before 30 April Return received within 1 month of deadline Return received more than 1 month of deadline Financial control No reconciliation issues Minor reconciliation issues/quickly resolved Major reconciliation issues and/or slow to respond Data quality No data quality issues (or less than 2% of active membership) Minor data quality issues/quickly resolved (2 to 5% queries) Major data quality issues (5%+ queries) and/or slow to respond