Why Are Pension Contributions Uploaded or Paid Late?
Understanding your pension payment timeline — and what causes “late payment” notices
Pension contributions should be paid by the 22nd of the month following the payroll month in which deductions were made.
For example, for March payroll, payment must be made by 22 April. This is the regulatory deadline set by The Pensions Regulator — not the internal deadline used by some pension providers.
🗓️ Timeline Overview
| Stage | Typical Timing |
|---|---|
| Payroll Finalisation | End of current payroll month |
| Pension Upload | Between finalisation and 15th of next month |
| Payment Collected | Within 3–5 working days after upload |
| Legal Deadline | 22nd of the month following deduction |
We ensure contributions are uploaded with enough time for payment to be collected before the 22nd deadline.
⚠️ Why You Might Receive a "Late Payment" Warning
If your pension provider has sent you a “late payment” notice even though we’ve uploaded and paid on time, here’s why:
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Your pension scheme may have been set up with a custom (early) internal deadline
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The provider’s system expects payment before the legal deadline
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This mismatch causes automatic late payment notices, even when you’re fully compliant
✅ What You Can Do
If you’re regularly receiving late payment messages from your provider:
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We’ll review your scheme settings and help your provider update the expected payment date
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This will stop false “late” warnings and align everything to the official 22nd deadline
🔐 Who’s Responsible for What?
Intelligent Payroll is responsible for:
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Uploading contributions after payroll is finalised
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Ensuring there’s time for collection before the legal deadline
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Communicating with providers if timing issues arise
You (the employer) are responsible for:
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Ensuring funds are available for direct debit collection
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Checking that pension payments clear your account
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Following up with your bank in case of failed collections