Please note we no longer conduct this survey.

Aim of this survey

The Quarterly Survey of Pension Funds: Income and Expenditure covers long-term and general insurance businesses’ pension funds, unit trusts, property unit trusts and investment trusts. Details provided include the acquisition and realisation of financial assets (investments) and other balance sheet information. These are complemented by annual balance sheet surveys, which provide estimates for the value of assets and liabilities at the end of the calendar year. The information that you supply forms part of the UK’s National Accounts and Balance of Payments, which are widely used within and outside government.

Results from the survey are published in an Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistical bulletin; Investment by insurance companies, pension funds and trusts (MQ5).

What you need to know

To complete the survey, you will need to know:

  • information regarding your income

  • information regarding your expenditure

All information you provide is strictly confidential.

Survey information

Selection criteria: UK-based self-administered pension funds (excluding those that are fully insured)

Population: approximately 1,400

Sample: approximately 360

Frequency: quarterly

Dispatch dates

Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar): 20 March

Quarter 2 (Apr to June): 25 June

Quarter 3 (July to Sept): 22 September

Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec): 18 December

Return-by dates

Quarter 1: 16 April

Quarter 2: 17 July

Quarter 3: 16 October

Quarter 4: 15 January

Dispatch and return-by dates are a guide. They are subject to change due to national holidays and weekends.

Why you were selected

Your business has been selected from a directory of businesses in the UK that are registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or with Companies House. Your response ensures we represent your industry.

The Quarterly Survey of Pension Funds: Income and Expenditure is conducted under the provisions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. Once selected, your business is legally obliged to comply. You cannot appeal your selection.

Why you have received this survey

We survey businesses of all sizes to ensure our statistics are representative of the UK economy. We select large businesses (those with 100 plus employees) for any relevant ONS business surveys because their information is so significant.

We select some small and medium businesses, usually for a set period of time, then replace them with other businesses from their industry. They are very important to us as their trading patterns are often very different to large businesses.

How to complete this survey

Please complete and return the questionnaire following the guidelines on the front page.

Reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return date.

At the moment, this survey is not available to complete online. We are currently developing a secure online collection platform. You will receive a letter notifying you when you can complete the Quarterly Survey of Pension Funds: Income and Expenditure on our new platform. We appreciate your patience.

How to find out more information

You can call us on +44 (0)1633 455177. Please contact us on +44 (0)300 1234 921 if you would like to speak to someone in Welsh.

Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg: +44 (0)300 1234 921