Lower income discount
Doctors on a lower income may be eligible to a 50% discount on their fee. To be eligible for the discount your gross annual world-wide income, from all sources, in the forthcoming registration year must be less than the threshold as specified in the GMC Fees Regulations.
Lower income discount thresholds
- £19,700 if your renewal date is on or before 31 March 2008
- £21,391 if your renewal date is on or after 1 April 2008
The lower income discount was introduced on 1 January 2005 and this guidance was last updated in January 2008. If we make any changes, you will find the details on our website, which we keep under regular review. Please be aware that these and other notes on our website are for guidance only.
You can apply for the lower income discount using the lower income discount application form (88kb, 
pdf)
Contents
1. Introduction
You should read this guidance if:
- you are a doctor with full or provisional registration and
- you are required to pay an annual retention fee and
- you expect that your income in the forthcoming registration year will be below the threshold specified in the GMC Fees Regulations:
£19,700 if your renewal date is on or before 31 March 2008
£21,391 if your renewal date is on or after 1 April 2008
Please note that, in this context, your income means your gross annual worldwide income from all sources, including (for example) pensions, investments, maternity pay, sick pay and any kind of benefit.
2. How the discount will work
For doctors whose annual retention fee is due on or before 31 March 2008, the income threshold is £19,700.
For doctors whose annual retention fee is due on or after 1 April 2008, the income threshold is £21,391.
If you expect that, in the forthcoming registration year, your income will be below the threshold that applies to you, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on your fee.
In cash terms, the discount will be £145 for doctors whose annual retention fee is due on or before 31 March 2008, and £195 for those whose fee is due after that date.
Please remember that you must apply for the lower income discount within the registration year for which you wish to claim. You must also reapply each year. The discount cannot be carried over from one year to the next, or applied to previous years.
3. How to claim the discount
To claim the lower income discount, you will need to complete a lower income discount application form (88kb, pdf) and return to us. We will review your application and then write to tell you whether or not your application has been accepted.
By signing and dating the application, you will be declaring that, in the forthcoming registration year, your gross annual worldwide income, from all sources, will be less than the annual threshold that applies to you. Please be aware that, if you intentionally make a false declaration about your income to avoid paying the full annual retention fee, you will be placing your registration at risk.
4. Declaration
Approximately eight weeks before the end of the registration year in which you have claimed a lower income discount, we will write to you again. Our letter will ask you to declare that your actual gross annual worldwide income, from all sources, was less than the annual threshold that applied to you.
You must sign, date and return the declaration to us at the address below. If we do not receive your completed declaration, we will be unable to accept any applications for the lower income discount that you may make in future.
5. Revoke your claim
If your income exceeds the threshold for the year, it is very important that you tell us immediately and pay the discounted portion of your annual retention fee.
To do so, write to us at the address below, confirm that you wish to revoke your lower income discount application, and enclose a payment of £145 if your annual retention fee for this year was due on or before 31 March 2008, or £195 if it was due after that date.
6. Contact us
General Medical Council
Fees Team
St James's Building
79 Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6FQ
United Kingdom
Phone: 0161 923 6602 (+44 161 923 6602 from outside the UK)
Email: registrationhelp@gmc-uk.org
Website: www.gmc-uk.org
