Teachers’ Pension Scheme reviews: a guide for employers

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme plays a crucial role in managing pensions for educational staff in England and Wales. Each year, employers are required to submit an End of Year Certificate (EOYC) to confirm that all contributions have been paid correctly. This process not only ensures compliance but also provides assurance to the Secretary of State. This article provides an overview of the EOYC review process for FY2025, highlighting key dates, changes, and helpful tips for employers to ensure smooth and accurate submissions.

Key changes in FY2025

The guidance for EOYC reviewers (TP05) was published in March 2025, and as expected, there have been no significant changes to the reviewers’ approach.

There has been the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) linked uplift to the member contributions bands, but the band rates remain the same as last year. The key change in FY2025 was the increase in the employer contribution rate from 23.68% to 28.68% from 1 April 2024.

Are you ready for your year-end EOYC review?

As we have now passed the Teachers’ Pension Scheme year-end, the submission date for the unaudited EOYC is fast approaching. As a reminder, the key dates are as follows:

While often referred to as a ‘review’, it's important to note that the EOYC process is not a full audit. It is an agreed-upon-procedures engagement performed under ISRS 4400 (Revised), as agreed with Teachers’ Pensions (TP). 

As this is a busy time of year for most employers, the completion of the EOYC can often be overlooked or rushed at the last minute. In order to prepare for the two key submission dates, we have outlined the following suggestions and tips:

Key tips for unaudited EOYC submission – 30 May 2025

Agree a timetable for your payroll bureau: If you rely on a payroll bureau to prepare your EOYC, ensure you agree on a clear timetable well ahead of the submission date. Many clients find themselves receiving their unaudited EOYC only days before the deadline, which doesn’t allow sufficient time for a thorough review. Ensure enough time is set aside for a detailed review and to address any queries.

Review the guidance on the TP website: Whether you're new to the EOYC process or just need a refresher, the TP website provides valuable resources, including guidance and training videos. Make sure you are familiar with the latest instructions to avoid any pitfalls.

Ensure access to the TP portal: Confirm that the relevant team members have access to the TP Portal. This portal is crucial for downloading important documents, such as the EOYC template and member data.

Perform a monthly contributions check: A common mistake employers make is not double-checking the contribution rates for each employee. We recommend reviewing these rates monthly to ensure that any discrepancies are identified and resolved early. This can be done efficiently using Excel by comparing pensionable pay and tier rates.

Check the contributions paid email from TP: By the end of April, TP will send out the total contributions received for the year to each establishment's Data Centre mailbox. This figure should match the contributions in Box 2d of the EOYC template. Any discrepancies will result in rejection of the EOYC, so it’s essential to address any differences promptly.

Multi-academy trusts – one EOYC or multiple?: Multi-academy trusts (MATs) face the decision of whether to submit one EOYC for the entire trust or one for each school. If you're producing individual submissions for each school, consider reaching out to TP to inquire if a single submission for the whole trust is possible to reduce the administrative burden and costs.

Key tips for audited EOYC submission – 30 September 2025

Agree a timetable with your EOYC reviewer: Now is the ideal time to set up a clear timetable with your EOYC reviewer to ensure the deadline is met. Since the unaudited EOYC will have already been submitted by 31 May 2025, aim to schedule the review and resolution of any issues for June 2025.

Clarify deliverables with your EOYC reviewer: Since there are no significant changes to the EOYC process this year, the information required will likely mirror that of previous years. Still, it’s prudent to confirm the details of what is required in writing, especially if you're working with a new reviewer.

Ensure you have access to the TP portal: As noted in the unaudited submission section, ensure you have access to the TP portal as your reviewer will be requesting various documents from you, such as member reports, opt-out reports, and additional contribution reports.

How we can help with your EOYC review

We know that the EOYC review is often performed by the organisation’s external auditor and therefore may not receive the same level of priority as the external audit. We have created a specialist Teachers’ Pension Scheme review team that reviews approximately 200 EOYC’s every year to provide separation between the EOYC review team and the external audit team and to ensure that specialist knowledge is applied to the review. As a result, we now perform a number of EOYC reviews whereby we do not act as the external auditor.

If you have any questions in relation to your EOYC review, please contact Lisa Randall or your usual RSM contact.