Pension automatic re-enrolment deadline (every 3 years)

UK employers with workplace pensions must complete automatic re-enrolment every three years from their original auto-enrolment staging date. A re-declaration of compliance is due to The Pensions Regulator within 5 months of the re-enrolment date.

What is this filing?

Re-enrolment is the legal duty to put eligible workers who previously opted out back into the workplace pension. It happens every 3 years from the staging date and must be followed by a re-declaration of compliance to TPR.

When is it due?

Re-enrolment date: choose any date within a 6-month window starting 3 months before and ending 3 months after the third anniversary of the staging date. Re-declaration: within 5 months of the re-enrolment date.

What's the penalty for missing it?

The Pensions Regulator can issue fixed penalty notices (£400) and escalating penalty notices (£50–£10,000/day depending on employer size) for non-compliance. Persistent breaches may trigger compliance notices and court action.

What it actually costs

The Pensions Regulator issues fixed penalty notices of £400 for late or missing re-declarations of compliance. If the breach continues, escalating penalty notices follow: £50–£500 per day for employers with fewer than 50 workers, rising to £10,000 per day for large employers. These are civil debts enforceable through the courts.

Why this catches practices out

• The re-enrolment window is six months wide but has a hard close — missing it requires waiting until the next three-year cycle.
• Clients who have changed payroll provider often do not know when their original staging date was, making the cycle hard to calculate.
• Practices absorbing new clients mid-cycle may find the next re-enrolment is imminent with no alert system in place.

How PenaltyProof helps

PenaltyProof tracks the re-enrolment deadline per client based on the `pension_staging_date` setting (paid plans, opt-in). One trigger per client every 3 years.

Frequently asked questions

Can the employer choose any re-enrolment date or is it fixed?

Employers may choose any date within a 6-month window: from 3 months before to 3 months after the third anniversary of the original staging date or previous re-enrolment date. This window must be used — there is no extension.

Who must be re-enrolled?

Eligible jobholders who opted out, ceased active membership, or had contributions reduced below the qualifying level in the period since the last enrolment. Workers below the age and earnings thresholds do not need to be re-enrolled.

What is the re-declaration of compliance?

The re-declaration is a statutory notice to The Pensions Regulator confirming the employer completed re-enrolment. It must be filed within 5 months of the re-enrolment date. Filing late or not at all triggers fixed and escalating penalties.

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