Rule · FCA · 15 Apr 2025
The FCA removes reporting obligations for data collections FSA039, Section F of the Retail Mediation Activities Return (RMA-F), and Form G, while deleting 70 pages of related guidance from the Supervision manual. These changes come into force on 27 June 2025, with the corresponding RegData switches set to activate on 11 July 2025. The amendments affect approximately 16,000 firms, including insurance intermediaries, MIFIDPRU investment firms, and retail investment advisers, by eliminating the requirement to submit these specific regular returns and notifications.
Policy Statement
PS25/7
Data Decommissioning: Removing reporting and notification requirements June 2025
This relates to
Consultation Paper 25/8 which is available on our website at www.fca.org.uk/publications Email:
cp25-8@fca.org.uk
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Contents
Chapter 1 Summary Page 4
Chapter 2 Consultation feedback Page 7
Annex 1 List of non-confidential respondents Page 10
Annex 2 Abbreviations used in this paper Page 11
Appendix 1 Made rules (legal instrument)
Chapter 1
Summary
1.1 In Consultation Paper 25/8, ‘Data Decommissioning: Removing reporting and
notification requirements’, we proposed removing two regular data returns, a notification requirement, and outdated Handbook content. We shortened our consultation to 4 weeks and waived the associated late return administrative fees during this period.
1.2 These changes align with our Strategy 2025 goal to be a smarter, more data-driven, and
proportionate regulator—reducing unnecessary burdens and simplifying our rules.
1.3 These changes represent a milestone in the data decommissioning workstream, part of
the wider Transforming Data Collection (TDC) programme, reinforcing our commitment to cutting low-value reporting and improving data use.
1.4 This policy statement summarises feedback and confirms our decision on the proposed
changes.
1.5 Virtually all (95%) of the 31 respondents expressed full support for the proposed
changes. Some respondents said this would reduce the weight of compliance and encourage growth within their firms.
1.6 Some respondents highlighted concerns about the removal of returns which act as a
reminder to firms to make sure they remain compliant with our rules.
1.7 General feedback from respondents was for us to continue to reduce regulatory burden.
Respondents suggested additional returns to decommission which would reduce administrative burden, and other changes to streamline reporting.
1.8 Where relevant, the data collections will be removed from firms’ RegData schedules. We
will also remove the return form layouts and instructions from the Handbook. We expect this to reduce annual costs for industry by approximately £1.3m, benefiting around 16,000 firms. This is a first step to reduce firm burden of reporting.
1.9 We will remove 70 pages from the Handbook which refer to guidance on data collections
that have already been decommissioned. This guidance is in SUP 16 annex 24R and
Annex 25G. These changes are to streamline the Handbook and simplify navigation of
the 2 Annexes.
1.10 While we will continue to review our data collections, we must still make sure we maintain
effective supervision through retaining relevant data items. We are consulting to remove 2 additional data collections via the June Quarterly Consultation Paper (QCP), CP25/16,
Chapter 3, and making a further 2 data collections more proportionate. The deadline for
responses to the QCP is 30 June 2025.
1.11 We have considered the responses on an annual reminder in the place of RMA-F, and we
will review this as an option in My FCA.
1.12 We will continue to review other regulatory returns as a potential candidate for
decommissioning. Data decommissioning is just one of the TDC workstreams. More information on how we are working with industry to transform data collection is at transformingdatacollection.co.uk. Who this affects
1.13 Our final rules affect a wide range of firms that we authorise and regulate. Some firms
are also authorised and regulated by the PRA:
What we are changing
1.18 Having considered the feedback, we are immediately removing the following data
collections:
Chapter 2
Consultation feedback
2.1 In this chapter, we summarise the feedback on our proposals for decommissioning
FSA039, Section F of RMAR and Form G as set out in CP25/8. Our response to each question takes this feedback into account. FSA039 – the client money and client assets return
2.2 This data collection asks if a firm has held client money or client assets and if it does
stock lending activities using clients’ custody assets.
Question 1: Do you agree that we should decommission FSA039 – the client money and client assets return? If not, please provide specific reasons for your answer
2.3 We received 11 responses to this question. All agreed with the proposal.
2.4 Some respondents commented on the duplication of the information collected in this
return with other Client Money and Assets returns.
Our response
We will remove the requirement to provide us with the data in FSA039 and remove the form from firms’ RegData schedules.
Section F of the RMAR
2.5 This data collection asks firms to confirm if there have been any changes to their close
links or to their controllers. It then asks firms to confirm that, where relevant, they have notified us of these changes. Question 2: Do you agree that we should decommission Section F of the RMAR – RMA-F? If not, please provided specific reasons for your answer
2.6 We received 15 responses to this question. Nearly all respondents agreed with the
proposal.
2.7 Some respondents were concerned that, without the return, some firms would not
remember to notify us of close links and controllers. One respondent thought it would
be more harmful than beneficial. Others suggested that we send reminders to firms to notify us of changes to their close links and controllers. Our response We will remove the requirement to provide us with the information in
Section F of RMAR. We acknowledge concerns about the potential failure
of firms to report changes to their close links and controllers. We will consider what the options are to remind firms of their obligations here. Form G
2.8 This is an event driven data collection. It requires firms to notify us where 2 complaints
have been upheld in a 12-month period for a single adviser, or where a single complaint has been upheld, and the compensation is more than £50,000. Question 3: Do you agree that we should remove the individual complaints notification requirement and related notification, Form G? If not, please provide specific reasons for your answer
2.9 We received 11 responses to this question. All respondents agreed with the proposal.
However, 1 respondent was concerned that it could lead to a delay in us becoming aware of a potential issue at a firm and being able to take action. Our response We will remove the requirement to submit the Form G notification but acknowledge the concerns raised. We have recently published CP25/13 – Improving the complaints reporting process, which closes on 24 July
2025. This is the first wholesale review of complaints data collection
since 2015. The changes proposed seek to reduce unnecessary reporting burdens on firms while improving our ability to detect and tackle consumer harm. We remind firms that submitting a SUP 15 notification is a way to communicate with us in line with Principle 11 – dealing with the regulator in an open and honest way. This notification is available in Connect. And in November 2024, we published a Call for Input on Modernising the Redress System. In this we asked if we should clarify expectations on SUP 15 notifications. We are currently exploring whether to consult on that.
References to EEA firms and Handbook guidance deletion Question 4: Do you agree that we should delete the references to EEA firms in the completion guidance for RMAR? If not, please explain why Question 5: Do you agree that we should delete guidance in the Handbook that relates to data collections that have already been decommissioned? If not, please explain why
2.10 We received 10 responses to Question 4. All respondents agreed with the proposal to
delete references to EEA firms in RMAR guidance.
2.11 We received 11 responses to Question 5. All respondents agreed with the proposal.
Our response
Reducing the length of the Handbook supports the TDC programme by simplifying our reporting requirements. We will delete references to EEA firms in the completion guidance for RMAR. And we will delete the form layout and instructions related to RegData collections that are no longer in use. Cost Benefit Analysis Question 6: Do you have any comments on the cost benefit analysis in
Annex 2?
2.12 We received 23 responses to this question. Most respondents had no comments on the
CBA itself, although some thought that anything that reduced the burden of compliance would encourage growth. And most said they supported our proposals overall.
2.13 Instead, respondents fed back on other data collections they find especially
burdensome. Some also suggested other things we could do to improve data collection and communications with firms. Our response We welcome the additional insight respondents have provided. We will use this to inform our work, including the TDC work programme.
Annex 1
List of non-confidential respondents
We are obliged to include a list of the names of respondents to our consultation who have consented to the publication of their name. That list is as follows:
Aberdeen
British Insurance Brokers’ Association
Chelwood Financial Management
Daines Kapp Insurance Brokers Ltd dart Compliance Ltd Edward Gerald Murray Ellis David Limited HHIB LifeSearch Ltd Manor IFA Lloyd’s Market Association Middleton Insurance Services Ltd Multrees Investor Services Prizm Solutions Ltd RS Risk Solutions Limited SimplyBiz Services Limited Sutcliffe Insurance Brokers Limited The GIConsultant.com Limited The Risk Factor Ltd
Annex 2
Abbreviations used in this paper
Abbreviation Description
CBA Cost Benefit Analysis
CP Consultation Paper
EEA European Economic Area
ESG Environment, Social and Governance
PRA Prudential Regulation Authority
PS Policy Statement
QCP Quarterly Consultation Paper
RMAR Retail Mediation Activities Return
TDC Transforming Data Collection
Appendix 1
Made rules (legal instrument)
FCA 2025/23
DATA DECOMMISSIONING INSTRUMENT 2025
Powers exercised
A. The Financial Conduct Authority (“the FCA”) makes this instrument in the exercise of the following sections of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“the Act”):
(1) section 137A (The FCA’s general rules); (2) section 137T (General supplementary powers); and (3) section 139A (Power of the FCA to give guidance). B. The rule-making provisions listed above are specified for the purposes of section 138G(2) (Rule-making instruments) of the Act. Commencement
C. This instrument comes into force on 27 June 2025.
Amendments to the Handbook
D. The Supervision manual (SUP) is amended in accordance with the Annex to this instrument. Citation E. This instrument may be cited as the Data Decommissioning Instrument 2025. By order of the Board 25 June 2025
FCA 2025/23
Annex
Amendments to the Supervision manual (SUP) In this Annex, underlining indicates new text and striking through indicates deleted text, unless otherwise stated. 15 Notifications to the FCA …
15.2 Purpose
…
15.2.6 G SUP 15.12 (Ongoing alerts for retail adviser complaints) sets out rules and
guidance on a firm’s obligation to notify the FCA of complaints against an employee acting as a retail investment adviser. [deleted] SUP 15.12 (Ongoing alerts for retail adviser complaints) is deleted in its entirety. The deleted text is not shown but the section is marked ‘deleted’ as shown below.
15.12 Ongoing alerts for retail adviser complaints [deleted]
SUP 15 Annex 8R (Form G: The Retail Investment Adviser Complaints Notifications Form) is deleted in its entirety. The deleted text is not shown but the annex is marked ‘deleted’ as shown below.
Annex
8R
Form G: The Retail Investment Adviser Complaints Notifications Form [deleted] Amend the following as shown. 16 Reporting requirements …
16.12 Integrated Regulatory Reporting
…
Regulated Activity Group 3
…
FCA 2025/23
16.12.1
R The applicable data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out according to firm type in the table below:
Description of data item
Firms’ prudential category and applicable data items (note 1) MIFIDPRU investment firms Firms other than MIFIDPRU investment firms IPRU(INV)
Chapter 3
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 5
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 13
…
Threshold conditions
Section F
RMAR
Client money and client assets
FSA039 Section C
RMAR
…
16.12.1
R The applicable reporting frequencies for data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out in the table below according to firm type. Reporting frequencies are calculated from a firm’s accounting reference date, unless indicated otherwise. Data item Non-SNI MIFIDPRU investment firm SNI MIFIDPRU investment firm Investment firm group Firm other than a MIFIDPRU investment firm … FSA039 Half yearly Half yearly Half yearly …
Section F
RMAR
Half yearly
…
16.12.1
FCA 2025/23
SUP 16.12.12R, unless indicated otherwise.
Data item Quarterly Half yearly Annual
…
FSA039 30 business days
…
Section F
RMAR
30 business days
…
Regulated Activity Group 4
…
16.12.1
R The applicable data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out according to firm type in the table below:
Description of data item
Firms’ prudential category and applicable data items (note 1) MIFIDPRU investment firms Firms other than MIFIDPRU investment firms IPRU(INV)
Chapter 3
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 5
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 11
(collective portfolio management firms only) IPRU(INV)
Chapter 12
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 13
…
Threshold conditions
Section F
RMAR
…
Client money and client assets
FSA039 Section C
RMAR
FCA 2025/23
…
16.12.1
R The applicable reporting frequencies for data items referred to in SUP 16.12.15R are set out in the table below according to firm type. Reporting frequencies are calculated from a firm’s accounting reference date, unless indicated otherwise. Data item Non-SNI MIFIDPRU investment firm SNI MIFIDPRU investment firm Investment firm group Firm other than a MIFIDPRU investment firm … FSA039 Half yearly Half yearly Half yearly …
Section F
RMAR
Half yearly
…
16.12.1
SUP 16.12.16R, unless indicated otherwise.
Data item Quarterly Half yearly Annual
…
FSA039 30 business days
…
Section F
RMAR
30 business days
…
FCA 2025/23
…
Regulated Activity Group 6
…
16.12.1
9A
R The applicable data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out according to type of firm in the table below:
Description of data item
Firms’ prudential category and applicable data items (note 1) IPRU(INV)
Chapter 3
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 5
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 13
…
Threshold conditions
Section F RMAR
Client money and client assets
FSA039 FSA039 Section C RMAR
…
16.12.2
R The applicable reporting frequencies for submission of data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out in the table below. Reporting frequencies are calculated from a firm’s accounting reference date, unless indicated otherwise. … FSA032 Quarterly … FSA039 Half yearly …
Section F RMAR Half yearly
…
16.12.2
FCA 2025/23
SUP 16.12.20R.
Data item Quarterly Half yearly Annual
…
FSA032 20 business days
…
FSA039 30 business days
…
Section F
RMAR
30 business days
Regulated Activity Group 7
…
16.12.2
2A
R The applicable data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out according to type of firm in the table below:
Description of data item
Firms’ prudential category and applicable data item (note 1) MIFIDPRU investment firms Firms subject to IPRU(INV)
Chapter 13
Firms that are also in one or more of RAGs 2 to 6 and not subject to IPRU(INV)
Chapter 13
…
Threshold conditions
Section F RMAR
…
16.12.2
3A
R The applicable reporting frequencies for data items referred to in SUP 16.12.22AR are set out in the table below. Reporting frequencies are calculated from a firm’s accounting reference date, unless indicated otherwise.
FCA 2025/23
Data item Frequency
Non-SNI
MIFIDPRU investment firm
SNI
MIFIDPRU investment firm
Investment firm group
Annual regulated business revenue up to and including £5 million Annual regulated business revenue over £5 million …
Section F
RMAR
Half yearly Half yearly Half yearly Half yearly Half yearly … 16.12.2 4A SUP 16.12.23AR, unless indicated otherwise. Data item Quarterly Half yearly Annual …
Section F
RMAR
30 business days
…
Regulated Activity Group 8
…
16.12.2
5A
R The applicable data items referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out according to type of firm in the table below:
Description of data item
Firms’ prudential category and applicable data items (note 1) MIFIDPRU investment firms Firms other than MIFIDPRU investment firms IPRU(INV)
Chapter 3
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 5
IPRU(INV)
Chapter 13
…
FCA 2025/23
Threshold conditions
Section F
RMAR
Client money and client assets
FSA039 Section C
RMAR
…
16.12.2
R The applicable reporting frequencies for data items referred to in SUP 16.12.25AR are set out according to the type of firm in the table below. Reporting frequencies are calculated from a firm’s accounting reference date, unless indicated otherwise. Data item Non-SNI MIFIDPRU investment firm SNI MIFIDPRU investment firm Investment firm group Firm other than a MIFIDPRU investment firm … FSA039 Half yearly Half yearly Half yearly …
Section F
RMAR
Half yearly
…
16.12.2
SUP 16.12.26R, unless indicated otherwise.
Data item Quarterly Half yearly Annual
…
FSA039 30 business days
…
Section F
RMAR
30 business days 30 business days
FCA 2025/23
…
Regulated Activity Group 9
…
16.12.2
8A
R The applicable data items, reporting frequencies and submission deadlines referred to in SUP 16.12.4R are set out in the table below. Reporting frequencies are calculated from a firm’s accounting reference date, unless indicated otherwise. The due dates are the last day of the periods given in the
table below following the relevant reporting frequency period.
Description of data item
Data item (note
1)
Frequency Submission deadline
Annual regulated business revenue up to and including £5 million Annual regulated business revenue over £5 million Home finance mediation activity and insurance distribution activity … Threshold Conditions
Section F RMAR Half yearly Half yearly 30 business
days
…
…
Section F (Threshold conditions) of SUP 16 Annex 18AR (Retail Mediation Activities Return
(‘RMAR’) is deleted in its entirety. The deleted text is not shown but the section is marked ‘deleted’ as shown below.
SECTION F: Threshold conditions [deleted]
Amend the following as shown.
Annex
18BG
Notes for Completion of the Retail Mediation Activities Return (‘RMAR’)
FCA 2025/23
…
Key abbreviations
5. The following table summarises the key abbreviations that are used in these
notes:
…
CREDS The Credit unions sourcebook, part of the Handbook DISP Dispute resolution: Complaints sourcebook, part of the Handbook EEA The European Economic Area … IMD The Insurance Mediation Directive … ISD The Investment Services Directive LTCI Long term care insurance … … EEA firms
9. In accordance with the relevant directives, incoming EEA firms are not subject
to all reporting requirements. In broad terms, this means that incoming EEA firms carrying on regulated activities by way of cross border services only are not required to complete the RMAR. [deleted]
10. In broad terms, incoming EEA firms carrying on regulated activities through a
branch in the United Kingdom are not required to complete the sections of the RMAR in the following table. [deleted] Prudential reporting requirements
Section A (balance sheet)
Section B (profit & loss)
Section C (client money)
Section D (capital requirements)
FCA 2025/23
Threshold conditions
Section E (professional indemnity insurance)
Section F (save in relation to questions about approved
persons)
Training and
Competence
Section G
Adviser charges Section K
…
NOTES FOR COMPLETION OF THE RMAR
…
Section F Threshold Conditions [deleted]
Close links
This section relates to threshold condition 3. Firms should consult COND 2.3, as well as Chapter 11 of the Supervision Manual (‘SUP’). Sole traders, firms which have permission to carry on retail investment activities only, firms with permission only to advise on P2P agreements (unless that activity is carried on exclusively with or for professional clients) or firms which have permission to carry on only one, or only both of:
(a) insurance distribution activity: or
(b) home finance activity; and are not subject to the requirements of SUP 16.4 or SUP 16.5 (requirement to submit annual controllers report; or annual close links reports), will submit these reports in RMAR section F instead. Controllers In very broad terms, so far as those required to fill in this part of the return are concerned, the Handbook requires notification of changes in a firm’s controllers as follows. A UK domestic firm other than a UK insurance intermediary must notify the FCA of any of the following events concerning the firm:
(1) a person acquiring control or ceasing to have control; (2) an existing controller acquiring an additional kind of control or ceasing to have a kind of control;
FCA 2025/23
(3) an existing controller increasing or decreasing a kind of control which he already has so that the percentage of shares or voting power concerned becomes or ceases to be equal to or greater than 20%, 30% or 50%; (4) an existing controller becoming or ceasing to be a parent undertaking. An overseas firm must notify the FCA of any of the following events concerning the firm:
(1) a person acquiring control or ceasing to have control; (2) an existing controller becoming or ceasing to be a parent undertaking. A UK insurance intermediary must notify the FCA of any of the following events concerning the firm:
(1) a person acquiring control;
(2) a controller:
(a) decreasing the percentage of shares held in the firm from 20% or more to less than 20%; or (b) decreasing the percentage of shares held in a parent undertaking of the firm from 20% or more to less than 20%; or (c) decreasing the percentage of voting power which it is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise of, in the firm from 20% or more to less than 20%; or (d) decreasing the percentage of voting power which it is entitled to exercise, or control the exercise of, in a parent undertaking of the firm from 20% or more to less than 20%; (3) an existing controller becoming or ceasing to be a parent undertaking. A summary of these notification requirements is provided in Annex 1G of SUP 11. This section of the return replaces the annual controllers reporting requirement in SUP 16.4.5R, which does not now apply to those firms subject only to the RMAR for the purposes of regulatory reporting. Moreover, the exemptions for certain other firms from the existing reporting requirement in SUP 16.4.1G are retained. Guide for completion of individual fields Close links Has there been a notifiable change to the firm’s close links? See SUP 11.9. All firms should have notified the FCA immediately if they have become aware that they have become or ceased to be closely linked with another person.
FCA 2025/23
If there have been any changes in close links that have not been notified to the FCA, you should do this now. For detailed guidance on what constitutes a close link, see COND 2.3. If yes, has the FCA been notified of it? See SUP 11.9. All firms should have notified the FCA immediately if they have become aware that they have become or ceased to be closely linked with another person. If there have been any changes in close links that have not been notified to the FCA, you should do this now. For detailed guidance on what constitutes a close link, see COND 2.3. Controllers Has there been a notifiable change to the firm’s controllers including changes to the percentage of shares or voting power they hold in your firm? See SUP 11.4. If there have been any changes in controllers that have not been notified to the FCA, you should do this by means of your usual supervisory channels. If yes, has the FCA been notified of it? See SUP 11.4. If there have been any changes in controllers that have not been notified to the FCA, you should do this by means of your usual supervisory channels. …
Annex
24R
Data items for SUP 16.12
…
The following sections are deleted in their entirety. The deleted text is not shown.
FCA 2025/23
The following sections are deleted in their entirety. The deleted text is not shown.
FCA 2025/23
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