Pension

Want to make the most of your pension savings? You could claim up to 45% tax relief on contributions, plus carry forward unused allowances. Here’s how to boost your retirement pot with generous HMRC incentives.

Tax relief on private pension

If your spouse or civil partner has passed away, you may inherit part of their State Pension, depending on when you reached pension age. Find out what you could claim, from basic pension boosts to deferred benefits and top-ups.

If you reached State

Private pensions can be a great way to pass on wealth, but tax implications depend on the age of the deceased and the type of pension. Some beneficiaries may receive funds tax-free, while others could face significant tax charges. Knowing the rules

Most personal pensions set a minimum age at which you can start withdrawing money, typically not before age 55. Some pension benefits can be taken tax-free. Generally, you can withdraw 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum, with a maximum of

The Department for Work and Pensions has published an outline of the new Pensions Scheme Bill. There are three main objectives that the government want to achieve, and they are set out below. However, the process of consultation and redrafting that

HMRC’s ‘Check your State Pension age’ tool is available at www.gov.uk/state-pension-age/y.

The online tool allows taxpayers to check the following:

the earliest age they can start receiving the State Pension;
their Pension Credit qualifying age;

An online service is available on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details to help people find their lost pension funds.

You can use this service to find contact details for:

your own workplace or personal pension scheme; or
someone

You can typically claim tax relief on private pension contributions up to 100% of your annual earnings, subject to certain limits. Tax relief is applied at your highest rate of income tax, meaning:

Basic rate taxpayers receive 20% pension tax

Pension Credits can provide extra income to those over State Pension age and on a low income. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently launched a Pension Credit action week to boost take-up of this vital benefit.

It is thought that up to

Pension Credits can provide extra income to those over State Pension age and on a low income. The credits were first introduced back in 2003 to help keep retired people out of poverty.

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a Pension