Pension Investments for the End of the Tax Year
Wherever you are with your retirement objective, do not be swayed from considering action, it s not too late. There are still steps you can put into place to increase the income you ll receive when you finish working.
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 boost it, especially as the close of tax yr is speedily forthcoming, or starting a SIPP to improve your options. You will not have to take all your pensions at the same time.
If you are 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 yr 2010/11. Investments above this annual amount are granted but will be taxed. You can contribute into any no. of pension schemes (personal and/or company) each year.
You ll obtain 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 added by the government to all contributions at a rate of 20 per cent.
Forty percent tax payers can claim up to a further 20% 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 per cent for those making more than 180,000. Earners beneath 130,000 will not be affected.
There s a lifetime limit on the size of your pension pot, which is currently £1.75m in the tax yr 2009/10 but rises to £1.8m for the 2010/11 tax yr. If your fund tops this, you ll incur tax charges of 55 per cent if the surplus gains are taken as a lump sum and 25 % if taken as regular income. The income will then be subject to income tax at your highest rate.
From 6/4/10, the age at which you can start taking your pension rises to 55. If you need to, pension benefits can be postponed until you are up to 75 yrs old. You might still be able to take your pension prior to age 55 in some circumstances, e.g. if you retire through ill-health.
Consilium Asset Management supply 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.
