Talking Pensions
Wherever you are with your retirement plans, don’t be put off from considering action, it s not too late. There are however steps you can take to increase the pension amount you’ll receive when you retire.
Pensions are a highly tax-efficient way to invest. If you already have a pension, now would be a very good time to contact us about making a lump sum contribution to improve it, especially as the close of tax yr is quickly approaching, or starting a SIPP to widen your options. You will not have to take all your pensions at the same time.
If you’re employed or self-employed, you can contribute up to 100 per cent of the value of your applicable UK salary (salary and other earnings), up to a maximum of 245,000 for the 2009/10 tax yr rising to 255,000 for the tax year 2010/11. Investments above this annual amount are granted but will be taxed. You can contribute into any number of pension schemes (personal and/or company) each year.
You ll receive tax relief on your Investment, so if you are a higher rate tax payer a 20,000 contribution would cost just 12,000. Basic rate tax relief is added by the government to all contributions at a rate of 20%.
High rate tax payers can claim up to a further twenty % tax relief via their tax return. 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 earning more than 180,000. Earners below 130,000 will not be impacted.
There s a lifetime limit on the size of your pension pot, which is presently £1.75m in the tax year 2009/10 but rises to £1.8m for the 2010/11 tax year. If your pot surpasses this, you ll incur tax charges of 55 % if the extra gains are taken as a lump sum and 25 per cent if taken as regular income. The income will then be subject to income tax at your highest rate.
From 6 April 2010, the age at which you can start taking your pension increases to fifty five. If you need to, pension benefits can be postponed until you are up to 75 years old. You may still be able to take your pension prior to age fifty five in some circumstances, e.g if you retire through ill-health.
Consilium Asset Management Limited supply advice on self invested personal pensions /sipps in South Gloucestershire.
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.
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