Direction_of_your_dreams Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Hello you knowledgeable forum members, not been on for a while so look forward to a good read later but for now, I have a question!! Friends ds is off to vocational school and mum is worrying over finances. We met for coffee and looked at the fee calculator in the RBS website which is a useful tool and noticed it says, household income includes 'amounts paid to superannuated pension scheme's....can anyone clarify what exactly that means? Does it mean that the amount of money they pay out in pension contributions is added back into the pot so to speak? So even tho it is deducted from their salary, it has to be declared as income? Does that make sense? We have been trying to understand it so there are no surprises when the MDs calculation is done but we didn't get very far so I told my friend, I knew just who to ask! You guys! ???? Thanks in advance and apologies not been on for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbert Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Yes, superannuation contributions means pension contributions. So if you earned say 10,000 and made 1,000 pension contribution the MDS award is by reference to the gross income ie 10k not 9k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooZoo Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Yes they add back pension contributions and virtually any other deduction made from gross salary. So it is the gross salary which "counts". Shortly with changes to the way taxable rental income is calculated on any buy to let property, that is going to impact too - bit unfair in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direction_of_your_dreams Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Thank you, to use the 10,000 analogy, i understand that if your pension contribution is £1000, then you are still assessed on £10,000, not £9000...but someone else has told my friend that their pension contribution was added back onto their P60 figure, So in our example, they would then be assessed on £11,000! Hence we are confused and my friend anxious as she had done the sums based upon their P60 figures. I hope i am explaining this correctly as we are really confused! ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 There is a thread in mumsnet about that zoozoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 If you send off both your March wage slip and your P60 they can see your pension contributions. Both my husband and I have NHS pensions. They are included in the gross income figure. ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direction_of_your_dreams Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 If you send off both your March wage slip and your P60 they can see your pension contributions. Both my husband and I have NHS pensions. They are included in the gross income figure. ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbert Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 I think what is happening is that at that pension contributions benefit from tax relief, so the amount your employer pays on your behalf would not represent taxable income. So the P60 would actually show 9,000 income for the year. In that case you would then need to add back the 1,000 to get to the MDS relevant number; 10,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direction_of_your_dreams Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Sorry don't know how to quote! I am feeling particularly stupid at the moment! ???? CDR, does that mean you add your pension back onto your P60 taxable salary so as example above £10,000 becomes £11,000? My friend has looked at their payslips and P60, if they have to add their pension contributions back in then all of a sudden their MdS contribution goes up considerably although their net pay reflects having paid out £x amount on pensions. Sorry to labour the point, but using the example again, have I understood this to be correct ...gross pay is £10,000, you contribute £1000 to your pension, so net pay is £9000. However you have to add the pension contribution back in so your gross becomes £10,000 plus £1000 pension so mds is assessed.on £11,000 even tho net pay is only £9000?? Many thanks, I normally have a good head for figures but we have got ourselves in a right pickle with this today and am very concerned for my friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direction_of_your_dreams Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Sherbet thank you, we posted at same time, will try and get my head around that, I feel I have been taking a very simplistic view on it all so have not been much help to my friend ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabitha Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Most people's taxable income is the same as their gross income. Superannuation refers to certain public sector pension schemes which operate like a salary sacrifice scheme i.e. Pension contributions are made before tax and therefore do not show on your pay slip or P60 as 'taxable' income and therefore needs to be added back on to make your gross income. Only worth worrying about if you work for the NHS or similar public sector scheme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 As I remember it they specifically ask for superannuation contributions on the MDS form. We were told that it had to be included in our gross income as it was money that we had earned but were choosing to put away for the future. Our choice. We sort financial advice about freezing our contributions to help with the school fees but we were strongly advised against doing that. It hurts to watch it come out every month ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direction_of_your_dreams Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Friend doesn't work for NHS or public sector company so pay slips just say pension contribution £xx or does that not matter given they are still putting away for the future as you say CDR? Really appreciate everyone's input and patience with me!! Have passed all info onto my friend, she is very grateful and may join the forum! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet4Boyz Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 I am classed as self-employed but a bit unusual as I pay into an NHS superannuation scheme. I've taken it that if I declare all my gross profit ......... this is the total amount I earn before paying tax and before paying superannuation contributions...... this is the figure they need to know. So for instance if my gross profit/earnings is £X ...... This is the amount I'm declaring for MDS calculations. From that value £X I would then be paying tax & pension contributions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 It becomes clearer when you fill in the MDS forms. They ask for your children's paper round earnings ???????? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Has anyone had an MDS form yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbert Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Only worth worrying about if you work for the NHS or similar public sector scheme. This is not correct, any and all pension provision contributions have to be added back to determine relevant MDS income, regardless of employment sector. As ever, I would suggest speaking to the school, the bursar will clear this up for you in 5mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbert Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Sorry to labour the point, but using the example again, have I understood this to be correct ...gross pay is £10,000, you contribute £1000 to your pension, so net pay is £9000. However you have to add the pension contribution back in so your gross becomes £10,000 plus £1000 pension so mds is assessed.on £11,000 even tho net pay is only £9000?? Come on, you know that's not right, you don't add the pension contributions twice! If from gross pay (10k) they make pension contributions of 1k, there p60 will show taxable pay of 9k (because earnings used to pay pension contributions is not taxable). However, MDS in on gross pay, so take p60 and add back pension contributions- 9+1=10! Pick up phone to bursar, probably easier for them to explain on phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Wondering if any additional contributions towards your pension made by an employer have to be counted in - is this what perhaps is being referred to? Along the lines of taxable benefits such as car allowance/computer/mobile phones/healthcare paid by employer etc. A monetary amount for the benefit of these is added as if earned then you pay tax on this amount. Whilst you do not have to pay tax on the pension, perhaps any extra is still added onto Gross pay as it is an amount one does ultimately receive. However, as you can't get at it until 55 in most cases it would seem harsh to include this in MDS calculations as it is not actually money you have access to use towards fees. I am merely commentating & have no finance knowledge, expertise or experience....as said speak to school Bursars & there must be a central MDS governing body to talk to I imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Follow Sherbert's advice and speak to school bursar. Years ago they were able to give us a rough figure of our contribution prior to official notification. At the time bursar advised we kept a copy of the MDS form to help us fill in the following years application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pud Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Employer pension contributions into their own occupational pension schemes are a tax free benefit to the employee. However any pension contributions paid by your employer into your own personal pension plan would be a taxable benefit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 I wonder how auto enrolment will affect all this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooZoo Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Auto enrolment is optional so it won't affect it, will it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbert Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 By definition auto enrolment is not optional. However, won't make any difference to the topic in discussion. It just means an employer must enrol employees in a pension plan, the mechanism for determining gross pay (pre contributions) remains the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZooZoo Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Yes - it is optional (employees can opt out). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutucute Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Has anyone had an MDS form yet? Not had anything come out yet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 MDS forms can come quite late, but once they are returned, we have always had a speedy reply about how much we have to contribute. It was scary opening that email the first time! ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamy11 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Received our MDS form last week, very detailed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BalletAims Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 From which school balletqueen please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamy11 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Tring balletaims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BalletAims Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Thank you balletqueen I'm waiting for Hammond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet4Boyz Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Just checking with everyone ....... do MDS calculations take into account any savings you have in savings accounts or is it solely based on gross income for the household ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 If you earn any interest from savings that has to be declared ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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