How to pay the fee

published:30 Mar 2009

Who has to pay?
Fully registered teachers pay an annual registration fee to stay on the Register. Being registered is a legal requirement for all qualified teachers who work as teachers in:

• maintained schools
• non-maintained special schools
• pupil referral units.

The fee must also be paid by:

• those teachers who work in academies and have to pay the fee as part of their employment contract
• any other teachers who wish to register with the GTC.

Teachers not currently working should ensure that they are registered and have paid the fee before they return to work.

There is no fee for provisional registration.

How much?
The fee year runs from 1 April to 31 March each year.

The current registration fee is £33.

The GTC seeks to keep administrative costs to a minimum, and so does not offer reduced or discounted fees or payment by instalments.

All teachers must pay the full fee including those who are working part time, on maternity leave, supply teachers, newly qualified teachers and those due to retire during the current fee year.

Teachers who fail to pay the fee may be removed from the Regsiter.

How to pay
Paying by Direct Debit reduces the costs of fee collection and the Direct Debit guarantee provides protection for teachers. Therefore, direct debit is the GTC's preferred method of payment.

Paying by Direct Debit
There are several ways to set up a Direct Debit:

• Complete the Direct Debit instruction form (available on this page) and return it to the address given on the form.
• Call the Teacher Enquiry Service on 0370 001 0308 to set up your Direct Debit over the phone. You will receive written confirmation.
• Complete the Direct Debit instruction enclosed with your most recent fee request letter.

Your annual fee will then be collected by Direct Debit and you will always be notified at least ten days in advance of the amount and the time.

First time registrants
Teachers registering for the first time are required to pay by Direct Debit, they should complete the direct debit instruction on the application to register form

Re-registrants
If you used to be registered and now re-register, you will be required to pay by Direct Debit, even if you used a different method in the past.

If you have any outstanding fees from when you were previously registered, these will need to be paid at the point you re-register.

Other forms of payment

Payment by cheque
Teachers who are already registered may pay their fee by cheque. Cheques should be made payable to 'The General Teaching Council for England'. If possible you should complete the payments slip enclosed with the most recent fee request letter and return it in the envelope provided.

Alternatively, send your cheque directly to:
Revenues Team
General Teaching Council for England
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4AJ

Make sure that you quote your address and teacher reference number (TRN) on the reverse of the cheque.

Payment by debit or credit card
To pay by debit or credit card, call the Teacher Enquiry Service.

• phone: 0370 001 0308

STRB allowance
If you are employed by a local authority or a maintained school to undertake specified work, you will be entitled to receive a special allowance of £33 as part of your salary towards the cost of your registration fee. The £33 payment is based on a recommendation by the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) and so only applies to those employed under Teachers' Pay and Conditions.

The GTC has no control over the payment of the allowance and any queries should be directed to your employer.

Your responsibility to pay the fee does not depend on whether you receive the allowance.

Tax relief
Tax relief can be given against the fees to the GTC provided that you remain in relevant employment. 'Relevant employment' is any employment linked to the teaching profession. Precise definitions are subject to agreement by HM Revenue & Customs.

Tax relief will be available if you pay for your registration fee out of your own pocket (including payments by direct debit and salary deduction). You cannot claim tax relief if someone else pays your registration fee on your behalf.

To claim tax relief, download and complete the income tax relief form, then send it to your tax office (not to the GTC). Your tax relief will be received through an adjustment to your tax code.