The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is investigating at least one company offering what it describes as 'Certificates of Auto Enrolment Exemption' to employers.
A number of employers have been persuaded to pay for the documents, with the scammers claiming the paperwork means the holders do not have any workplace pension duties.
While employers have been charged £58 for the certificates, the documents are worthless – no such documents are produced or accepted by TPR as evidence of automatic enrolment exemption.
Every individual or organisation in the UK that employs at least one person has automatic enrolment duties. For some this will involve simply informing TPR that they do not have any staff that qualify for automatic enrolment. In other cases, employers will have to enrol some or all of their staff in a workplace pension and make regular contributions. There is no evidence that employers are buying the fake documents with the intention of committing any offences. However, employers who have failed to comply with their duties because they believe the documents give them an exemption leave themselves open to being fined, and may be committing an offence.
Anyone who is offered the chance to buy a certificate of exemption or any similar sounding document is being urged to decline and contact TPR immediately.
Darren Ryder, TPR’s Director of Automatic Enrolment, said:
“Most independent advisers offer legitimate services that assist employers with their workplace pension duties. Nevertheless, employers need to take care when they are seeking help or advice about what they need to do about automatic enrolment.
We will work to root out the small number of organisations that are looking to prey on hard-working employers, abusing their trust and tricking them out of their money."
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Employers confident of automatic enrolment compliance 10 July 2017
For the first time, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published research into how UK employers are meeting their duties following the completion of their declaration of compliance.
Around 96% of employers asked said they are confident they are fully compliant with their ongoing duties towards their staff.
The research, which asked employers about their attitudes towards their ongoing duties, also shows employers found automatic enrolment easier than expected.
Most micro employers said they spend around half an hour each month meeting their duties and two thirds did not use outside help. Those who did said it cost them around £42 per month to use an accountant or auditor to help them.
TPR’s Director of Automatic Enrolment Darren Ryder said:
“These new figures show automatic enrolment is now simply part of running a business and that most employers have found meeting their duties less complicated than they expected.
The vast majority of employers comply on time and it is encouraging that so many employers are confident they are doing the right thing for their staff.
Employers can find the information they need to meet their ongoing duties on our website so they can ensure they are carrying out their duties correctly.”
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The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Policy News Journal
cipp.org.uk
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