Accountants advising a Community Interest Company team on auto enrolment workplace pension planning

Auto Enrolment Pension Services for CICs

Expert Auto Enrolment Pension Services for Community Interest Companies

Auto enrolment pension services for Community Interest Companies are a legal requirement, yet the rules can feel overwhelming. From staging dates and employee assessment to contributions and re-enrolment, we handle everything so you can focus on your community mission.

Scheme Setup

NEST, People's Pension & more

Staff Assessment

Age & earnings eligibility checks

TPR Compliance

Declarations filed on time

Fixed Pricing

No hidden costs

Call 01582 487594 Get a Free Pension Review

Why Choose Us?

500+

CICs & Charities Served

99.9%

On-Time Submissions

15+

Years Experience

ICO Registered | HMRC Compliant

What Is Auto Enrolment for a Community Interest Company?

Auto enrolment pension services for Community Interest Companies help you meet the legal duty to enrol eligible staff into a workplace pension scheme and pay minimum contributions. As your accountant, we handle every step so your CIC stays compliant with The Pensions Regulator.

Many CIC directors assume auto enrolment only applies to larger companies, but that is not the case. If your Community Interest Company employs at least one worker who meets the age and earnings criteria, you have automatic enrolment duties. In our experience supporting CICs and charities across the UK, the employers who run into trouble are usually the ones who tried to manage pensions themselves and missed a staging date or a declaration deadline.

We act as your outsourced pension department. From choosing a qualifying scheme such as NEST or The People's Pension, to assessing your team, calculating contributions and filing your declaration of compliance, everything is handled by accountants who understand the Community Interest Company structure.

3%

Minimum employer contribution

3 yrs

Re-enrolment cycle

100%

TPR compliance handled

TPR Compliant

Declarations filed on time, every time

Our Auto Enrolment Pension Services for CICs

A complete workplace pension service, tailored to how a Community Interest Company actually operates.

Staff Assessment

Every pay period we assess your team against age and earnings criteria to identify eligible jobholders, non-eligible jobholders and entitled workers.

Pension Scheme Setup

We help you choose and set up a qualifying scheme, working with all major providers including NEST, The People's Pension and Smart Pension.

Contribution Management

We calculate employer and employee contributions correctly and submit them to your provider, so you never underpay or overpay.

Declaration of Compliance

We complete and file your declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator by your legal deadline, removing the risk of fines.

Re-enrolment

Every three years we re-assess staff who opted out, re-enrol eligible workers and complete your re-declaration of compliance.

Opt-out Handling

We process opt-out requests, issue refunds within the statutory window and keep accurate records for future re-enrolment cycles.

What We Handle For Your CIC

Task	Description
Worker assessment	Identify eligible, non-eligible and entitled workers each pay period
Scheme selection	Choose and register a qualifying workplace pension scheme
Contribution calculation	Compute employer and employee contributions on qualifying earnings
Declaration filing	Submit your declaration of compliance to The Pensions Regulator
Re-enrolment	Run the three-year re-enrolment cycle and re-declaration
Record keeping	Maintain records for six years as required by legislation

Community Interest Company accountant reviewing workplace pension contribution documents

No Missed Deadlines

Staging dates tracked for you

Do Community Interest Companies Have to Provide a Workplace Pension?

Yes. A Community Interest Company that employs staff has the same automatic enrolment duties as any other UK employer. You must assess your workers, enrol eligible jobholders into a qualifying pension scheme and pay at least the minimum employer contribution.

There is a common misconception that CICs are treated like charities and are somehow exempt from pension duties. That is not correct. Charities do have some differences in how they operate, but Community Interest Companies are employers first and foremost. If you pay staff through PAYE, you almost certainly have automatic enrolment obligations.

You must assess staff aged 22 to state pension age earning over £10,000 a year

You must enrol eligible jobholders automatically, even if they do nothing

You must pay at least 3% employer contribution on qualifying earnings

You must complete a declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator

How Much Does Auto Enrolment Cost for a CIC?

Understanding the real cost helps CIC directors budget properly for workplace pensions.

Minimum Contribution Rates

Since April 2019, the statutory minimum contributions on qualifying earnings are as follows:

Party	Minimum rate
Employer (you)	3% of qualifying earnings
Employee	5% of qualifying earnings
Total minimum	8% of qualifying earnings

Qualifying Earnings Band

Contributions are calculated on earnings between the lower and upper limits set by the government each tax year.

Lower limit: £6,240 for the current tax year
Upper limit: £50,270 for the current tax year
Our payroll team calculates exact figures for you every month

Our accountants charge a transparent fixed fee for managing auto enrolment on top of the contributions themselves, so you always know exactly what you are paying.

What Is a Staging Date?

Your staging date is the day your CIC's automatic enrolment duties begin. It is assigned by The Pensions Regulator based on when you first registered with HMRC and when you took on employees. Missing it can lead to escalating penalty notices, which is why our accountants track every client's staging date as a priority.

Why CICs Choose Our Accountants for Auto Enrolment

In our years of working with Community Interest Companies, we have seen which mistakes cost employers the most. Here is how we help you avoid them.

Built for the Way CICs Work

A Community Interest Company is different from a standard limited company. You have a community purpose, an asset lock and often a mix of paid staff and directors. Our accountants understand this structure and apply auto enrolment rules in a way that fits your organisation, not a generic template.

Deadlines Never Slip

The Pensions Regulator issues escalating fines for late declarations. In our experience, the quickest way for a CIC to receive a penalty is a missed staging date or a forgotten re-declaration. We track every deadline on your behalf so nothing is left to chance.

Sensible Scheme Choices

We regularly work with NEST, The People's Pension and other major providers. We help you compare charges and choose a qualifying scheme that balances low fees with good member outcomes for your team.

Direct Access to Real Accountants

When you call us, you speak to an accountant who knows your CIC, not a call centre. If The Pensions Regulator writes to you, we respond clearly and quickly on your behalf.

Related Services for Your Community Interest Company

CIC Payroll Services Accountants for Community Interest Companies Can a CIC Director Be Paid? Do CICs Pay Corporation Tax?

Auto Enrolment for CICs: Frequently Asked Questions

Clear, straightforward answers to the questions Community Interest Company directors ask us most often.

What is auto enrolment for Community Interest Companies?

Auto enrolment is a legal duty that requires every UK employer, including Community Interest Companies, to enrol eligible workers into a workplace pension scheme and make minimum contributions. Your accountant manages your staging date, employee assessment, pension scheme setup and ongoing contributions so your CIC stays compliant with The Pensions Regulator.

Do Community Interest Companies have to provide a workplace pension?

Yes. A Community Interest Company that employs staff must comply with automatic enrolment duties, just like any other UK employer. You must assess your workforce, enrol eligible jobholders into a qualifying scheme and make at least the minimum employer contributions set by law.

How much does auto enrolment cost for a CIC?

Our auto enrolment pension services for Community Interest Companies start with transparent fixed fees. The main recurring cost is the pension contributions themselves, which are currently a minimum of 3% for the employer and 5% for the employee on qualifying earnings.

What is a staging date for auto enrolment?

A staging date is the date your Community Interest Company's automatic enrolment duties first take effect. It is set by The Pensions Regulator based on when you first took on employees. You must have a pension scheme in place and complete your declaration of compliance by this date.

What happens during re-enrolment for a CIC?

Re-enrolment happens every three years. Your accountant re-assesses any staff who previously opted out and re-enrols them if they still meet the eligibility criteria. You then complete a re-declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator.

What happens if a CIC misses its auto enrolment deadline?

The Pensions Regulator can issue fixed penalty notices that escalate the longer you remain non-compliant. In serious cases, fines can run into thousands of pounds. Working with an accountant who tracks your deadlines is the simplest way to make sure this never happens to your Community Interest Company.

Can a CIC director opt out of the workplace pension?

Yes, any worker including a director can opt out within the one month opt-out window and receive a refund of contributions. However, you cannot encourage or pressure anyone to opt out, and you must enrol eligible workers before they make their own choice. Our accountants handle the process correctly and keep records for re-enrolment.

Get Your CIC Pension Ready Without the Stress

Speak to our accountants for a free, no-obligation review of your auto enrolment position. We will confirm your staging date, assess your team and tell you exactly what you need to do next.

Request a Free Review 01582 487594

Free initial consultation • No obligation quote • Same-day response