If you are a member of the Money Purchase 2003 (MP03) Section, Pearson will pay double the amount you do (up to certain limits). The flexibility of the section also means that you can:
- choose the amount you pay in increments of 0.5% and get tax relief on your contributions;
- change the amount you pay, between the minimum and maximum, monthly. Changes usually take effect from the next month (just fill out this form)
- pay Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) (these are not double matched by Pearson, so only suitable if you are already paying at the maximum double-matched level). Find further details here.
- pay in more when you reach certain age criteria shown below
Money Purchase 2003 (MP03) Section
- Age: Under 30
You pay (min)
3%Pearson pays
6%Total (min)
9%You pay (max)
5%Pearson pays
10%Total (max)
15% - Age: 30 – 44
You pay (min)
3%Pearson pays
6%Total (min)
9%You pay (max)
6%Pearson pays
12%Total (max)
18% - Age: Over 45
You pay (min)
3%Pearson pays
6%Total (min)
9%You pay (max)
8%Pearson pays
16%Total (max)
24%
- Auto Enrolment (AE) Section
You pay
5%Pearson pays
3%Total
8%
If you are a member of one of the DB sections, click here for details about your contributions.
Are you missing out on extra money?
Remember – Pearson pays in double! Here are some examples of how this affects the amount being paid into your pension pot each month.
Also, your pension contributions are taken out of your salary before tax, which means you pay no tax on them. Your tax relief is worked out automatically by payroll, so you don’t need to do anything. Click here for more information.
Basic rate tax payer (20%)
Laila is a member of the MP03 Section and she earns £25,000 per year.
In summary…
Over the year, the total amount going into Laila’s pension pot is £2,250.00 at a cost to her of £600 a year after tax relief.
Tom is an AE Section member and earns £25,000 per year
In summary…
Over the year, the total amount going into Tom’s pension pot is £1,501 at a cost to him of £750 after tax relief.
Higher rate tax payer (40%)
Yang is a member of the MP03 Section and earns £70,000 per year.
In summary…
Over the year, the total amount going into Yang’s pension pot is £6,300 at a cost to him of £1,260 per year after tax relief.
Claire is an AE Section member and earns £70,000 per year.
In summary…
Over the year, the total amount going into Claire’s pension pot is £3,523 at a cost to her of £1,321 after tax relief.
What’s the catch?
There is no catch. By becoming a member of the MP03 Section, you not only get more pension contributions and the option to save more than the minimum, you also get valuable death and ill health protection providing financial security for you and your family should the unexpected happen.
Would you like to join the MP03 Section?
Joining the MP03 Section is easy. If you are new to Pearson please complete the online application form. If you are currently a member of the AE Section and would like to switch to the MP03 Section please complete the online switching form.
To help you decide what you may need to pay now for a comfortable life after work, click here for The Money and Pensions Service pension calculator to find out your likely retirement income.
* The minimum contribution for MP03 members is 3% of Pensionable Salary whilst Pearson pay a minimum of 6% (depending on your age and contribution level this could rise to 16%).
** AE Section members contribute 5% of Qualifying Earnings, with Pearson contributing 3% on this amount.
Tax implications
Your contributions are paid tax-free, providing you are under HMRC’s Annual Allowance (AA).
What is the Annual Allowance?
The Annual Allowance is the maximum Pension Input Amount that can be paid each year into all your pension arrangements without incurring a tax charge. The standard Annual Allowance for the 2021/22 tax year is £40,000. However, it could be reduced to a minimum of £4,000 a year depending on your adjusted income.
Go to our Annual Allowance page for more information.
What does this mean for you?
The Annual Allowance will only affect you if you think your Pension Input Amount may have exceeded the £40,000 limit. If you think you might have exceeded the limits set by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) you may have a tax charge to pay. This is known as an Annual Allowance tax charge.
If we think that you have exceeded the Annual Allowance, then you will receive a pension savings statement to help you calculate whether you have exceeded the Annual Allowance. You will receive a pension savings statement if:
- your Pension Input Amount in the Plan has exceeded the standard Annual Allowance in 2020/21, or
- you have requested a pension savings statement
