A new digital service has been launched that makes it easier to check if you have any gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record that may affect your State Pension entitlement. The service is called Check Your State Pension Forecast and can be accessed via GOV.UK or the HMRC app. You will need to register for or…
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The number of retirees who could face an Income Tax bill is expected to rise. If your total income could exceed tax thresholds, there might be some steps you can take to reduce your tax bill. The Personal Allowance is the amount of income you can receive before you usually need to pay Income Tax on…
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It’s been more than a decade since auto-enrolment was introduced, and now most workers automatically become members of their employer’s pension scheme. While more people saving for retirement is excellent news, it could mean you end up juggling multiple pots. One option is to transfer one pension to another, known as “consolidation”. It’s usually simple to…
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The State Pension is often a useful foundation when you’re creating an income in retirement. Yet, a survey from Just Group found that a third of people didn’t check their State Pension forecast before stopping work. While the State Pension might not be your primary income in retirement, it’s…
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Taking a tax-free lump sum from your pension could be a fantastic way to kickstart your retirement plans. If it’s something you’re thinking about, it’s important to consider the long-term implications and understand how much you could withdraw from your pension before facing a tax bill, as the rules have changed in 2024/25. Previously, you could take 25% of your…
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The pension Annual Allowance increased significantly in the 2023/24 tax year. If you haven’t already reviewed whether the changes could mean you can tax-efficiently add more to your pension, doing so before the current tax year ends on 5 April 2024 might be beneficial. The Annual Allowance is up to £60,000 in 2023/24 The…
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Some pension savers may have unwittingly exceeded a tax allowance and could now face a higher bill, figures suggest. According to HMRC data, the number of people exceeding the Annual Allowance increased by almost 20% in 2021/22 when compared to just a year earlier. The HMRC figures show more than 53,000 people contributed more to their…
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Every year thousands of people retire. It’s a milestone that you might be looking forward to in 2024 with excitement. It’s also a life event that you may feel nervous about. Spending some time preparing for the next chapter could mean you feel more confident about stepping away from work. If you’re hoping to retire next…
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In a bid to encourage early retirees back to work, chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled several changes to pension allowances during the Budget. The announcements could mean you’re able to save more in your pension and boost your retirement income. Here are the four key pension changes Hunt announced. 1. The Lifetime Allowance will be…
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Do you find pension information confusing? You’re not alone; 50% of people in the UK describe the information they receive about their pension as “overwhelming”, according to a Standard Life study. Fortunately, there are places where you can seek guidance or advice. The survey found 83% of people think financial advisers offer useful support. If you’re not…
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