Income discount
Doctors may be eligible to a 50% discount on their fee if their income falls below a certain threshold.
To be eligible for the discount your gross annual world-wide income, from all sources, in the registration year for which you are applying must be less than the income threshold for that year.
The income threshold depends on the date your annual fee falls due, or the date you were granted registration with a licence to practise if you are applying in your first year of registration.
You can apply for the discount using the income discount application form (88kb, PDF)
Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. How to claim the discount
- 3. How the discount will work
- 4. Declaration of your income
- 5. Withdrawing your claim
- 6. Contact us
1. Introduction
The discount helps doctors whose income falls below a certain threshold. It is available to doctors who are fully registered, with or without a licence to practise.
It provides a 50% discount on the annual retention fee (ARF) for that year and it is also available on the full initial registration fee.
Eligibility
The discount is available to doctors who are registered with or without a licence to practise.
The discount is not available in the first two years of provisional registration, on restoration fees, or, on the full registration fee for doctors who hold, or have previously held provisional registration or those who submit their application within two years of passing a primary medical qualification (and do not hold, or have not previously held, provisional registration). These fees have already been discounted. It is available on the full registration fee for all other applicants and the annual retention fee.
If you expect your gross annual worldwide income from all sources to be below the specified threshold, you are eligible to apply.
Income thresholds
- £26,000 if your annual retention fee is due between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012, or you are granted full registration for the first time in this period.
- £30,000 if your annual retention fee is due between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013, or you are granted full registration for the first time in this period.
- £31,000 if your annual retention fee is due between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014, or you are granted full registration for the first time in this period.
We define income as your gross annual worldwide income from all sources, including (for example) pensions, investments, maternity pay, sick pay and any kind of benefit.
2. How to claim the discount
To claim the income discount please complete the income discount application form (88kb, PDF) and return it to us. Alternatively you can fax or email us a scanned application but it must be signed and dated.
If you are applying for registration with a licence to practise for the first time you must pay the fee in full and then apply for the discount once you are registered.
If you are paying an annual retention fee we encourage you to apply at the beginning of your registration year to avoid having to pay the full fee. You can apply for the discount up to three months in advance of your ARF due date, any time during your current ARF year, and up to three months after your ARF year has ended.
If your financial circumstances change mid year you can apply for the discount at any time in your current registration year.
If you are applying for the first time you should complete your details and Part A of the form.
If you were granted the discount previously and wish to reapply you should complete your details together with Parts A and B of the form.
If you were granted the discount previously and do not wish to reapply for the next year you should complete your details and Part B of the form.
If you are applying at the end of your registration year, having paid the full fee, you should complete your details together with both Parts A and B of the form.
3. How the discount will work
When we receive your completed application we will assess it. If your application is for your forthcoming registration year and you have not received your fee notice, we will write to you to tell you whether or not your application has been approved. When your annual retention fee notice is sent to you it will reflect the discount and confirm the amount payable.
If you have applied after receiving a fee notice, or part way through the year, we will send you a statement detailing the balance on your account. If you have paid your fee in full we will refund the overpayment within 10 days of granting the discount. If you pay by monthly or quarterly Direct Debit we will adjust your payment plan accordingly.
4. Declaration of your income
Towards the end of the registration year in which you have claimed a discount we will write to you enclosing an application and declaration form. We will ask you to declare that your actual gross annual worldwide income, from all sources, was below or above the income threshold and ask you if you wish to reapply for the discount.
You must complete your details and Part B of the form, sign and date the declaration and return this to us. If we do not receive your completed declaration we may withdraw your discount and request payment of the remaining fee. We will be unable to process any future applications for the discount.
We may ask you to provide documentary evidence to support your claim for the discount. False information may result in the GMC removing your name from the Register.
If you have earned more than the threshold you are liable to pay the remaining balance of the fee.
5. Withdrawing your claim
If you have claimed the discount and your income changes within the registration year, you should review your expected income. If you are no longer entitled to the discount it is important you advise us immediately. You should complete your details and Part B of this form stating that you earned above the threshold and return this to us. You are liable to pay the remaining balance of the fee.
6. Contact us
General Medical Council
Fees Team
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW
United Kingdom
Phone: 0161 923 6602 (+44 161 923 6602 from outside the UK)
Fax: 0161 923 6352 (+44 161 923 6352 from outside the UK)
Email: regfees@gmc-uk.org