Pension Advice
Wherever you are with your retirement plan, don t be swayed from considering action, it s not too late. There are however steps you can take to improve the pension amount you ll get when you finish working.
Pensions are a highly tax-efficient way to save. If you already have a pension, now would be a very good time to contact us about making a lump sum contribution to boost it, especially as the end of tax yr is rapidly forthcoming, or starting a self invested personal pension to widen your choices. You will not have to take all your pensions at the same time.
If you are employer or self employed, you can contribute up to 100 per cent of the value of your relevant UK salary (salary and other earnings), up to a maximum of 245,000 for the 2009/10 tax year rising to 255,000 for the tax year 2010/11. Contributions above this annual amount are allowed but will be taxed. You can contribute into any no. of pension schemes (personal and/or company) each year.
You will receive tax relief on your Investments, so if you are a forty % tax payer a 20,000 contribution would cost just 12,000. Basic rate tax relief is supplied by the government to all contributions at a rate of twenty%.
Higher rate tax payers can obtain up to a further 20 per cent tax relief via self assessment. If you earn more than 150,000 you will see the tax relief on your pensions cut from April 2011, tapering from 40 to 20 percent for those making more than 180,000. Wage Earners below 130,000 will not be affected.
There s a lifetime limit on the amount of your pension savings, which is currently £1.75m in the tax yr 2009/10 but rises to £1.8m for the 2010/11 tax yr. If your pot exceeds this, you ll incur tax charges of 55 per cent if the excess benefits are taken as a lump sum and 25 per cent if taken as income. The income will then be subject to income tax at your highest rate.
From 6th April 10, the age at which you can start drawing your pension increases to fifty five. If you need to, pension benefits can be postponed until you are up to 75 yrs old. You may still be able to take your pension before age 55 in certain circumstances, for example if you retire through ill-health.
Consilium Asset Management Ltd provide pension advice and retirement planning advice.
The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back your original investment. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Tax benefits may vary as a result of statutory change and their value will depend on individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent finance acts.