How to complete declaration of compliance for workplace pensions in the UK?

If you’ve recently taken on staff (or you’re about to), auto-enrolment will quickly move from “something we’ll deal with later” to “we need to do this properly”. One of the key steps is the declaration of compliance, the online form that tells The Pensions Regulator (TPR) you’ve met your workplace pension duties.

In 2026, the form itself isn’t complicated, but it does require the right information, the right timing, and a clear internal policy on who handles pension admin when deadlines land.

What is a declaration of compliance?

A declaration of compliance is the online declaration submitted to The Pensions Regulator confirming that your organisation has set up a qualifying workplace pension scheme and handled auto-enrolment correctly.

Think of it as the regulator’s “receipt”: you’re stating that eligible workers have been enrolled (or assessed correctly), that communications have been issued, and that your scheme details are in place.

When is the declaration of compliance deadline?

For most UK employers, the deadline is within five months of the duties start date.

That “duties start date” is the point from which your auto-enrolment responsibilities kick in, which is why it’s worth mapping pension tasks into your wider payroll and employment admin calendar early, instead of treating it as a one-off form.

What does TPR need from you (and why)?

You’ll submit the declaration through an online form. TPR typically prompts you to do this and provides a letter code (sent after you register as an employer).

Here’s what you’ll commonly need.

Declaration of compliance essentials (at a glance)

How do you complete the declaration of compliance?

A clean way to tackle this in 2026 is to treat it like a short workflow: wait for the letter, gather scheme details, complete the form and save confirmation.

Step 1: Wait for the TPR prompt (and letter code)

You don’t usually need to “start” the process first, TPR will reach out and provide the letter code needed for the form.

Step 2: Collect scheme information from your pension provider

Before you open the form, pull the scheme details together (name, address, scheme references).

Step 3: Prepare your employer and workforce information

Have your PAYE reference ready, confirm your organisation type (e.g., Companies House number or VAT number), and use payroll records to confirm headcount and eligibility numbers.

Step 4: Submit the declaration online and keep evidence

Once submitted, store the confirmation in your admin “tab” (or shared folder) so it’s easy to retrieve later, especially if the person responsible changes job, or the task is handed to another team.

What is re-declaration of compliance, and when do you need to do it?

Declaration of compliance isn’t “one and done”. Over the life of the business, you’ll typically revisit compliance on a three-year cycle, because people join, leave, opt out, change hours, or change eligibility.

In practice, it usually works like this:

• Re-enrolment happens first (bringing certain workers back into the scheme where required).

• Re-declaration follows, confirming ongoing compliance to TPR.

As with the first declaration, you generally have a window to complete re-declaration (the original guidance referenced completing it within five calendar months of the third anniversary of the duties date).

How can payroll software help with UK workplace pension compliance?

For UK businesses, payroll and pensions tend to get messy at exactly the wrong time: when headcount grows, responsibilities shift, and “someone else used to do that”.

Using a payroll sotware can help you avoid missing key compliance moments by surfacing required actions (for example, when re-declaration is due) and keeping the employee and scheme information you need easy to pull together.

It’s a simple way to reduce last-minute scrambling: fewer missing details, fewer spreadsheets, and fewer “who has the letter code?” messages.

Want to experience the future of payroll?

Book a demo