News

Find out what’s happening at Sackers. Our News section provides information about recent work, press comment and media coverage, and what our people are doing.

Latest News

Opra Update 5 – relaxing the rules on reporting late payment of contributions

As part of its aim to adopt a more risk-based approach to dealing with breaches of the Pensions Act, on 23 January 2004 Opra announced a relaxation in its requirements for trustees reporting late payment of contributions by employers....

Access to occupational pension schemes for self-employed workers?

On 13 January 2004, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) essentially concluded in Allonby v Accrington & Rossendale College and others that a self-employed worker may be able to claim membership of a statutory occupational pension...

Unapproved group life assurance without capital gains tax

There has been a longstanding difficulty for employers wishing to arrange unapproved group life assurance. The employer can be subject to a tax charge on the “deemed gain” on the second and subsequent deaths. The Finance Act...

Pensions and Tax – to simplify or not to simplify?

The Government has just issued its latest consultation paper on tax simplification “Simplifying the taxation of pensons: the Government’s proposals”. The paper was published immediately after Gordon Brown’s...

Venables v Hornby – pensions victory for early retiree

The Inland Revenue is inherently suspicious of early retirement where employees, but in particular directors, carry on some form of reduced employment or office with the same employer. However, on 4 December 2003, the House of Lords...

New anti-discrimination laws come into force

On 1 and 2 December 2003, new anti-discrimination legislation comes into force to prohibit discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and religion or belief. This is the next instalment of the UK legislation needed to put into effect...

Business transfers – do early retirement benefits transfer?

On a business transfer, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (“TUPE”) usually apply so that rights and obligations under employment contracts, an employment relationship or a collective...