Repaying IPSA

MPs will be required to make repayments to IPSA in circumstances including, but not limited to, the following::

• they have been paid an amount (or have had an amount paid by IPSA on their behalf) that IPSA subsequently determines should not have been paid

• they have overspent their budget in a particular category of spending

• they have agreed to repay an amount following an investigation by the Compliance Officer, or

• they have been directed by the Compliance Officer to repay an amount. [2.11]

Making repayments to IPSA

In any of the circumstances described, if MPs do not make the repayments within 30 days, IPSA will arrange for the amount to be deducted from further payments of claims to which the MPs are entitled.

MPs may request for the amount to be deducted from their salaries instead of being deducted from the payment of further claims. [2.12]

You may request for the amount to be deducted from your salary instead of being deducted from the payment of further claims. [2.13]

In exceptional circumstances, if any amounts due for repayment have not been recovered by IPSA within 30 days of MPs being notified, the remaining amounts may be deducted from MPs’ salaries without their agreement. [2.14]

Download the IPSA Repayment Form.

An MP who intends to claim for rental costs may apply to IPSA for a loan to cover any deposit payable at the commencement of a tenancy.

This loan will not be deducted from the accommodation costs budget. [4.24]

This loan cannot exceed the lower of:

• the deposit which is stated in the rental agreement

• one-quarter of the relevant annual accommodation costs budget (for example, London area or the constituency) [4.25]

Applications for loans must be submitted by the MP and accompanied by a rental agreement for IPSA to approve.

IPSA will pay the loan to the MP, who will forward the deposit to the landlord.

IPSA may consider a deposit loan application that is accompanied by a draft rental agreement – in these circumstances, a fully signed agreement must be submitted to IPSA within one month of the start of the tenancy.

If this condition is not met, IPSA may recover the deposit loan and any rent already paid under the draft agreement from the MP. [4.26]

You can apply by Completing a Property Registration Form.

MPs may not hold more than one loan for a deposit on rental accommodation at any one time, except where IPSA agrees otherwise. [4.27]

The MP is responsible for securing the return of the deposit and for repaying the amount in full to IPSA, no later than one month after the date on which the tenancy comes to an end, or, where the MP leaves Parliament, the end of the winding-up period (whichever is earlier).

Any shortfall between the deposit paid and the amount returned shall be the sole responsibility of the MP. [4.28]

Loans for holding deposits

MPs may also apply for a loan for a holding deposit before the start of the tenancy.

Holding deposit loans must be repaid to IPSA within 30 days of signing the tenancy agreement or refund of the holding deposit, whichever is earlier.

IPSA may also agree to recover the amount via alternative means. [4.29]

Download the IPSA Repayment Form.

An MP who intends to claim from the office costs budget for rental costs may apply to IPSA for a loan to cover any deposit payable at the start of a tenancy. [6.25]

Applications for loans must be submitted by the MP and accompanied by a rental agreement for IPSA to approve.

IPSA will pay the loan to the MP, who will forward the deposit to the landlord.

IPSA may consider a deposit loan application that is accompanied by a draft rental agreement. in these circumstances, a fully signed agreement must be submitted to IPSA within one month of the start of the tenancy.

If this condition is not met, IPSA may recover the deposit loan and any rent already paid under the draft agreement from the MP. [6.26]

The MP is responsible for:

• securing the return of the deposit and for repaying the amount in full to IPSA, no later than one month after the date on which the tenancy comes to an end, or

• where the MP leaves Parliament, no later than one month after the end of the winding-up period (whichever is earlier)

Any shortfall between the deposit paid and the amount returned shall be the sole responsibility of the MP. [6.27]

In circumstances where we have requested a repayment, you will receive a task in your task manager titled ‘Choose payment method or reject’.

Note: If you mark a payment card line as ‘not claimed to be repaid’ you would not receive this task as you have requested to make a repayment.

If you have a request for repayment you must action the task to let us know your intentions. The guidance below demonstrates how to do this.

For more information, visit Organising tasks in Full View and Organising tasks in Quick View.

You may request a review of a claim if it has been rejected by IPSA.

It's important to remember you only have two weeks to request a review of the claim, because the review is completed in the system we will not be able to review it after two weeks.

After two weeks, the cost would have to be submitted as a new claim.

IPSA pays salaries to MPs and their staff and provides MPs with budgets and payment cards to support their parliamentary functions.

The Debt Recovery Policy sets out how IPSA handles money or debt which is due for repayment to IPSA by MPs, their staff or other persons and organisations.

Read the full Debt Recovery Policy.

You can use the repayments form to pay any money you owe back to IPSA.

You can repay IPSA via BACS transfer (our bank details are found at the bottom of the Repayment Form).

Once the repayment has been made please complete the Repayment Form and send it to info@theipsa.org.uk.

Money might be owed to IPSA for several reasons, including overdue deposit loans, overspent annual budgets, and where duplicate claims have been submitted and paid twice.

You can find out more about these reasons and others by watching our IPSA Online webinar – why might monies be owed?

There are two ways you can use to find out if your office owes money using IPSA Online.

As an MP or an expenses proxy, there is a report in your dashboard called MPD Repayments Due, which includes a description of what needs to be repaid.

IPSA will also ask for repayment via a "Choose Repayment Method or Reject" task in your Task Manager. These are also known as Credit Notes.

You can find out more by watching our IPSA Online webinar – how do you know if your office owes money?

When you open a "Choose Repayment Method or Reject" task in your Task Manager you can see the details of the repayment being requested by IPSA.

The description is available on the bottom right side of the form, and you will need to scroll to see it. You need to action the request by selecting one of the available options.

You can repay via direct payment and by using a payment offset.

You can find out more by watching our IPSA Online webinar – how do you repay any monies owed?

If you have any questions about repayment, please contact your account manager by email at info@theipsa.org.uk or by booking a call.

Please remember, you always need to action any Credit notes, even if you are unsure about whether any monies are owed.

Your nominated Account Manager is always your best option for discussing anything within IPSA Online.

You can find out more by watching our IPSA Online webinar – how do you challenge your monies owed?

You can avoid owing money by using the dashboard and Business Costs Breakdown Reports.

You can find claims you have already submitted and that have been paid and approved. you can also avoid surprises later in the year by keeping track of claims being allocated to your budgets.

Contact your Account Manager if you have any doubts.

You can find out more by watching our IPSA Online webinar – how do you avoid owing money?

If your monies owed remains unactioned in IPSA Online, there can be several consequences, including:

• suspension of your Payment Card

• offsetting of claims

• salary deductions

• removal of Payment Card

Read about IPSA’s Debt Recovery Policy.

You can find out more by watching our IPSA Online webinar – what can happen if your monies owed remain unactioned?

A duplicate claim has been submitted and paid twice – often a reimbursement claim submitted alongside a payment card line.

All duplicate claims are published in line with our publication regulations.

It is important to avoid making duplicate claims to avoid the need to repay money to IPSA, maintain compliance with the Scheme, remain within budget, and reduce workload.

You can learn more by watching our IPSA Online webinar – how to avoid making duplicate claims.