Advice about Pensions
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 take to improve the pension 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 good time to contact us about making a lump sum investment to improve it, particularly as the final stage of tax yr is speedily emerging, or starting a self invested personal pension to widen your options. You won t have to draw all your pensions at the same time.
If you are 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 yearly limit are granted but will be taxed. You can invest into any number of pension schemes (personal and/or company) each year.
You will receive tax relief on your Investment, so if you are a forty percent tax payer a 20,000 investment would cost just 12,000. Basic rate tax relief is added by the government to all contributions at a rate of twenty percent.
Forty% tax payers can obtain up to a further twenty % 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. Earners beneath 130,000 will not be impacted.
There s a lifetime limit on the amount of your pension savings, which is currently £1.75m in the tax year 2009/10 but rises to £1.8m for the 2010/11 tax yr. If your fund surpasses this, you ll incur tax charges of 55 percent if the extra benefits 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 6th April 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 years old. You might 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 Ltd offer 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.
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