Bestinvest Logo
Learning
PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT

A selection of your pension questions

On 14 May we held our Pension Question Time event at the Jaguar Experience in Birmingham.

Published on 17 May 20184 minute read

At what point do you start paying tax if you exceed the lifetime allowance?

Under current legislation if you haven’t touched your pension, and you haven’t reached age 75 or died, then nothing will happen if you go over the allowance. If you start to take money from your pension – what is known as ‘crystallisation’ – then the part of your pension that you crystallised will be tested against the lifetime allowance and you may need to pay tax on any excess when you take the money.

However you may want to address the various options for protecting your pension if you think your pension is growing at such a rate that it’s going to breach the allowance in the future.

What happens if you don’t take your tax-free cash?

If you don’t take your 25% tax-free cash before age 75, and then you died after age 75, your beneficiaries or whoever you’ve nominated wouldn’t get the option to take the tax-free cash.

How are pensions measured against the lifetime allowance?

It depends on how your pensions are made up. If you have a defined contribution or money purchase pension, where your pension is a fund that has a specific value, the lifetime allowance test is against this value. But if you’re in a final salary pension such as a teacher’s pension, then you need to multiply the pension’s annual income by 20 and measure this against the lifetime allowance.

If I move abroad, should I move my pension or keep it here?

That comes down to where you’re living, whether you’re already taking your pension, what the currency exchange risks are, and what’s available for you to do. One of the most important issues is always currency risk – a lot of people underestimate it.

Financial planner Eliana Sydes on stage.

It hasn't been uncommon to see British people living in France drawing money for their income, and when the exchange rates went against them, suddenly they couldn’t afford to live because they were essentially still trading in pounds but living in euros – and it was a huge issue.

Are there any points at which you pay tax when paying into your pension, or is it only when you take the money out?

You will need to pay tax if your pension contributions exceed the annual allowance in any year. But you won’t pay any lifetime allowance tax charges until you start taking money out of your pension, you reach age 75 or you die.

What is the likely effect on annuity rates if bank interest rates ever go up?

Annuity rates are linked to long-dated UK Government bond (or gilt) yields, rather than high street bank rates. Long-dated gilts drive up or down the cost of providing the guaranteed income to the annuity provider. So if gilt rates are low, annuity rates are also likely to be low and vice versa.

Bank interest rates would affect short-dated gilt yields, whereas long-dated gilt yields are more influenced by expectations for things like future inflation and long-term growth in the economy.

I’m in my 70s and am still working part-time. My annual salary is less than £40,000, but I’ve received an inheritance that I’d like to invest. Can I still make use of carry forward if I’m on a low income at this stage in life?

Even when using carry forward, your annual pension contributions are still capped by your annual earnings. So if you’ve got part-time employment income of £20,000 a year then you will be restricted to this amount when paying into your pension. You could still use carry forward if your employer was willing to contribute for you, but if you haven’t then that’s not the case. However you could also look at maximising your ISA allowance, which is £20,000 at the moment.

Would you like to talk to a Coach about your pension?

If you know your pensions need some attention or you just want to make sure you’re doing all you can, why not book a free call with one of our Coaches.

Book an appointment

Important information

The above answers do not constitute advice. Each individual’s needs and circumstances are very different and pensions are a complex area. You should seek professional advice before taking or refraining from action.

Get insights and events via email

Receive the latest updates straight to your inbox.

By clicking the following button you are agreeing to our website conditions.

You may also like…

Pensions and retirement

10 pension tax benefits and pitfalls to know about

17 Feb 2022 | minute read

Pensions and retirement

Finding lost pensions - the complete guide

12 Nov 2021 | minute read

Pensions and retirement

Extra money? Should you top up your pension or pay extra on…

29 Oct 2021 | minute read