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- Servicing FAQs
Servicing FAQs
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If you have a unit-linked policy, it's very likely you'll have the choice of several funds with differing levels of risk, volatility, and sustainability objectives/characteristics. For a list of the available funds on each product, see the appropriate fund range leaflet:
Fund range - Approved Retirement Fund policy numbers beginning 7004 and 7005
Fund range - Capital Investment Bond and other net policies started before 1999
Fund range - Corporate Pension Series member numbers beginning 500, 501 and 502
Fund range - Executive Pension Plus member numbers beginning 503
Fund range - MoneyWorks Bond Gross policy numbers beginning 441 and 442
Fund range - MoneyWorks Plan and Bond Net policy numbers beginning 401 and 402
Fund range - Personal Pension Plan policy numbers beginning 20000Fund range - Personal Pension Plan policy numbers beginning 1 or 9
Fund range - Personal Pension Plus policy numbers beginning 20001, 20002, 20003
Fund range - Prosperity Bond Gross policy numbers beginning 443
Fund range - PRSA policy numbers beginning 203, 204 and 205
Fund range - Tower Pension Series member numbers beginning with L and ending AFund range - Synergy policy numbers beginning AB,AC,AR,AS,BB,EP,PA,PP,PR,RP
You can also check out the fund factsheets, performance, prices and volatility in our Fund Centre - just remember to select your product type.
In some circumstances, access to a fund may be restricted, see Products and funds trading leaflet (PTR) for more details.
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Call us on +353 1 639 7000 - we'll complete some security questions and act on your instruction over the phone. Alternatively, you can complete an Instruction to switch funds, and post it to Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Instead of posting, you can scan and email it to us at dealing@standardlife.ie
If you're emailing us, please be security aware. There's no guarantee that any email you send us will be received, or that it will remain private and unaltered during internet transmission.
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If you want to change where your regular premiums or contributions are collected from, please download the appropriate direct debit mandate, complete and sign it
Direct debit for policy numbers beginning 1, 9, F or L
Direct debit for policy numbers beginning 2, 4 or 5
Direct debit for policy numbers beginning EP, PA, PP, PR, RP (Synergy products) and send it to us at Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Instead of posting, you can scan and email it to us at customerservice@standardlife.ie
If you're emailing us, please be security aware. There's no guarantee that any email you send us will be received, or that it will remain private and unaltered during internet transmission. -
You can deal or view online values of shares and exchange traded funds bought through certain Standard Life Synergy pension and approved retirement fund policies. For more information, see our Self-Directed Options guide (SYSDO1)
This service is provided by Stocktrade, our appointed execution-only stockbroker, based in Dundee, Scotland. Stocktrade offers an online or phone based dealing service that carries out deals and settles transactions on your behalf. This is an execution-only service.
You can talk to a member of the Stocktrade Dealing Team between 8am and 9pm Monday to Friday
(except English bank holidays).Their phone number is +353 1 639 7200.
The markets you will be able to access during this time will vary, for example you can only trade on the Irish stock market between 8am and 4:30pm and the US and Canadian markets are open from 2:30pm to 9pm GMT.Log on to Stocktrade
Calls may be monitored and/or recorded to protect both you and us and help with our training. Calls charges will vary. -
To surrender your policy, complete this Withdrawal instruction and post it, together with the certified copy documents, to Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Instead of posting, you can scan and email them to us at fundtransactions@standardlife.ie
If you're emailing us, please be security aware. There's no guarantee that any email you send us will be received, or that it will remain private and unaltered during internet transmission.
To get certified copies of your documents, photocopy the originals, bring the originals and copies to a post office, bank, Garda station or qualified accountant/financial adviser. They'll check, stamp and sign each copy to certify it's a true copy of the original. Enclose those certified copies with your instructions.
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To make a withdrawal from your policy, complete this Withdrawal instruction and post it, together with the certified copy documents, to Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Instead of posting, you can scan and email them to us at fundransactions@standardlife.ie
If you're emailing us, please be security aware. There's no guarantee that any email you send us will be received, or that it will remain private and unaltered during internet transmission.
To get certified copies of your documents, photocopy the originals, bring the originals and copies to a post office, bank, Garda station or qualified accountant/financial adviser. They'll check, stamp and sign each copy to certify it's a true copy of the original. Enclose those certified copies with your instructions.
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Some products are open to new investments, including top ups. Other products may be open to top ups only, or closed. For more information, see Products and funds trading.
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If it's a premium/contribution on an existing policy, please make your direct credit payment to Standard Life International, IBAN: IE81 HSBC 990231 37001649, quoting reference: your policy number, and the premium due date it relates to (dd/mm/yyyy).
If it's the 1st premium/contribution on a new policy, please quote reference: your surname, first name, and date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy).
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To add an owner to your policy, you will need to
- complete a deed of absolute assignment, and send it to us, together with
- a Stamp certificate (or confirmation that stamp duty does not apply and the reason why)
- a copy of a recent utility bill or bank statement for each of the policy owners to verify their address
- a copy of the current passport or driving licence of each policy owner to verify their name, date of birth and signature
(recent means within 6 months and current means not expired)
Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax may apply on transfer of ownership.
You can't add an additional life assured to an existing policy.
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To transfer ownership of your policy, you will need to
- complete a Deed of absolute assignment, and send it to us, together with
- a Stamp certificate (or confirmation that stamp duty does not apply and the reason why)
- a copy of a recent utility bill or bank statement for each of the new policy owners to verify their address
- a copy of the current passport or driving licence of each new policy owner to verify their name, date of birth and signature
(recent means within 6 months and current means not expired)
Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax may apply on transfer of ownership.
Changing ownership doesn't change the lives assured named in the policy, on whom the policy depends. You can't change the lives assured on an existing policy.
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To remove an owner from your policy, you will need to
- complete a Deed of absolute assignment, and send it to us, together with
- a Stamp certificate (or confirmation that stamp duty does not apply and the reason why)
- a copy of a recent utility bill or bank statement for each of the remaining policy owners to verify their address
- a copy of the current passport or driving licence of each remaining policy owner to verify their name, date of birth and signature
(recent means within 6 months and current means not expired)
Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax may apply on transfer of ownership.
Changing ownership doesn't affect the lives assured named in the policy, on whom the policy depends. You can't change the lives assured on an existing policy.
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When you invest in a Self-Directed Option, we set up a policy cash account to meet any charges and third party costs.
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These are options which allow you to have more control of your investments. The current options are third party deposit providers, and execution-only stockbroking.
For more information visit your options -
Here's a list of options depending on the type of policy you own.
Fund switch Sell self-directed options Transfer or invest monies from a suitable pension policy into this policy
Invest additional money into your policy
Synergy Personal Pension ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy Executive Pension ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy Buy Out Bond ✔ ✔ Synergy PRSA A-I ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy PRSA AVC A-I ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy Investment Bond ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy Portfolio Bond ✔ ✔ Synergy Regular Invest ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy ARF ✔ ✔ ✔ Synergy Portfolio ARF ✔ ✔ ✔ - If you want to invest benefits or transfer monies from another policy into your policy, please contact us on +353 1 639 7000 to make sure this is possible.
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The amount needed is to cover the expected policy charges. We recommend you hold enough money back to cover charges for the next 12 months. This will support you with the management of your policy. It's your responsibility to ensure that the balance held in your policy's cash account is enough to cover all charges and costs.
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The charges depend on your policy type and options chosen. Examples of some charges which may apply are management charge for Self-Directed Options, fund based charge, policy fee, third party charges. For more information on charges please call us on +353 1 639 7000.
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If you have a query about dividends, communications or how to manage your shareholding in abrdn plc, have a look at
www.abrdn.com/en-gb/corporate/investors/shareholder-information, or contact their share registrar, Equiniti, on
+353 1 431 9829, +44 371 384 2464, or questions@abrdnshares.com
Neither Standard Life International dac or Standard Life Assurance Limited (both part of Phoenix Group) have access to any shareholder information.
Servicing
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As a result of the Finance Act 2021, all AMRFs turned into ARFs from 1 January 2022. This means there is no longer a 4% pa withdrawal restriction until age 75 or a requirement to have a guaranteed income for life of €12,700. This also means that if you had an AMRF, it will be taxed in the same way as an ARF in 2022 and subsequent years. As a result, it will be subject to an imputed distribution assessment, and you may be paid (and taxed) on a withdrawal in December each year.
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Yes, for added peace of mind we can pay your annuity directly into your bank account.
You'll need to give us the details of your preferred bank account. We can only make payments into an Irish current account in your name.
Please call us on +353 1 639 7000 so we can help you to set this up. Please have your policy number and IBAN to hand.
Once the payment has been set up, we will contact you to confirm that it has been completed, and future payments will be made directly to your bank.
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You can make regular and/or occasional withdrawals from your ARF or Vested PRSA.
To do this, contact us and let us know how much you want to withdraw. To process your instruction, we'll also need your bank account details and may need certified copies of proof of your bank account, identity and address too.
To get certified copies of your documents, photocopy the originals, bring the originals and copies to a post office, bank, Garda station or qualified accountant/ financial adviser. They'll check, stamp and sign each copy to certify it's a true copy of the the original. Enclose those certified copies with your instructions.
You can post your instructions, together with the certified copy documents, to Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Or you can scan and email them to us at arf_payroll@standardlife.ie.
To surrender or cash in your policy, complete this Withdrawal instruction and post it, together with the certified copy documents, to Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Instead of posting, you can scan and email them to us at fundtransactions@standardlife.ie.
If you're emailing us, please be security aware. There's no guarantee that any email you send us will be received, or that it will remain private and unaltered during internet transmission.
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Occasional withdrawals are processed several times each month. Requests received 3 or more working days before the 15th of the month will be processed that month. Any request received after this date may not be processed until the following month.
Regular income withdrawals are processed on the 6th of the month.
Withdrawals will be paid directly into your bank account. Please allow up to 5 working days from processing for the payment to reach your account.
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Yes. Any withdrawals from an ARF or Vested PRSA are treated as income and taxed under the PAYE system.
This means your payment is liable to the income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge (USC) rates applicable to you. For further details, please see our Guide to your payments
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Revenue ask us to deduct tax at the higher rate of tax (currently 40%) unless we've received Revenue Payroll Notification (the employer's version of your Certificate of Tax Credits).
Your payslip shows what tax information we have for you. Your standard rate cut off point is the level of income you pay tax on at the standard rate (currently 20%). Any income above this level is taxable at the higher rate (currently 40%).
The tax credits you allocate to your policy are used to reduce the amount of tax deducted from your withdrawal.
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If you think we've deducted too much tax, you can contact your local Revenue office. They may ask for proof of your income for the year the payment was made. They will review the payment and your personal tax circumstances and issue a refund if it's due.
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To allocate tax credits to your Standard Life ARF or Vested PRSA you should contact your local Revenue office and quote our ARF and Vested PRSA employer number 3586780HH.
They will then issue a Revenue Payroll Notification to us. We will update our records and apply your up to date tax credits to your future payments.
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- Annuities: 3587289KH
- ARFs and Vested PRSAs: 3586780HH
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Yes. You can stop your regular withdrawal at any time. To do this contact us and let us know when you want your payments to stop.
Your ARF or Vested PRSA may still be subject to an imputed distribution withdrawal in December each year if you have not met your liability in the current tax year.
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Your imputed distribution withdrawal is a percentage of the value of your investment each year. The percentage depends on your age and the value of your investment (on 30 November) as follows:
- 4%, if you're 60 years of age or over for the full tax year, or
- 5%, if your 70 years of age or over for the full tax year, or
- 6% if you've combined ARF and Vested PRSA assets of €2million or more and you are aged 60 or over for the full tax year.
Your imputed distribution withdrawal, payable in December, will be reduced by actual distributions made during the year.
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An imputed distribution is an assumed withdrawal of a certain percentage from your ARF or Vested PRSA. You must pay income tax, PRSI and USC on at least this amount each year. Actual distributions from your ARF and/ or Vested PRSA each year can be used to reduce your imputed distribution liability. Each December, we'll calculate your imputed distribution and apply an actual distribution to your policy equal to your imputed distribution. We'll calculate your tax pay it to Revenue and pay the net amount to you.
Approved Retirement Fund and Vested PRSA payments
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We are sorry for your loss. Please accept our condolences. If you need help with your claim, please don't hesitate to call us on +353 1 639 7000.
Personal pensions, PRSAs
Please let us know, and complete Death claim instruction (personal pensions and PRSAs)
Retirement annuities and approved retirement funds
For annuities, please let us know, and send us a certified copy of their death certificate.
For ARFs, please complete Death claim instruction (ARFs)
Savings and investments
Some policies may cover more than one life, be based on first death or last survivor, and/or have joint owners.
If the sole policy owner or sole life assured has died, please let us know, and complete
Death claim instruction (savings and investments)If you're a surviving policy owner, and a life assured or other policy owner has died, please let us know, and send us a certified copy of their death certificate.
To get certified copies of your documents, photocopy the originals. Bring the originals and copies to a post office, bank, Garda station or qualified accountant/financial adviser. They'll check, stamp and sign each copy to certify it's a true copy of the original. Enclose those certified copies with your instructions.
You can post your instructions and certified copy documents to Standard Life, 90 St Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 F653. Instead of posting, you can scan and email them to us at
fundtransactions@standardlife.ieIf you're emailing us, please be security aware. There's no guarantee that any email you send us will be received, or that it will remain private and unaltered during internet transmission.