Thursday, 23 August 2012 08:24
High rate taxpayers 'missing a trick' by failing to contribute to a pension
Financial Planner Mike Moreton of Guardian Wealth Management believes high rate taxpayers who fail to pay into a pension are "missing a trick."
His comments follow reports from Prudential last week that one in four high rate taxpayers do not contribute to a pension, despite the attraction of tax-relief.
The sponsor of the Institute of Financial Planning found this equated to around 216,000 employees missing out on up to £438m each year in pension tax relief.
The average higher rate taxpayer contributed £425 per month into a pension fund that received basic rate tax relief of £1,020 per year. However, a further £1,020 in higher rate tax relief is available which could also be used for pension savings.
Mr Moreton said: "The one in four higher rate taxpayers who do not use the 40 per cent tax relief they are entitled to on pension contributions are missing a trick.
"Despite pensions receiving bad press in recent years, they are still the most efficient method of putting money away for retirement. Subject to an annual cap of £50,000, where else would you be able to turn every £1 you save into £1.66?"
He said falling house prices meant people could not rely on property to provide for them, which is often the plan for many retirees, and would need other options.
"A lot of people are relying on property to provide their nest egg in retirement but we've seen what's happened with falling house prices over the last few years.
"I'd always recommend a high rate taxpayer puts as much as they can sensibly afford into a pension plan to take full advantage of HMRC's generosity."
His comments follow reports from Prudential last week that one in four high rate taxpayers do not contribute to a pension, despite the attraction of tax-relief.
The sponsor of the Institute of Financial Planning found this equated to around 216,000 employees missing out on up to £438m each year in pension tax relief.
The average higher rate taxpayer contributed £425 per month into a pension fund that received basic rate tax relief of £1,020 per year. However, a further £1,020 in higher rate tax relief is available which could also be used for pension savings.
Mr Moreton said: "The one in four higher rate taxpayers who do not use the 40 per cent tax relief they are entitled to on pension contributions are missing a trick.
"Despite pensions receiving bad press in recent years, they are still the most efficient method of putting money away for retirement. Subject to an annual cap of £50,000, where else would you be able to turn every £1 you save into £1.66?"
He said falling house prices meant people could not rely on property to provide for them, which is often the plan for many retirees, and would need other options.
"A lot of people are relying on property to provide their nest egg in retirement but we've seen what's happened with falling house prices over the last few years.
"I'd always recommend a high rate taxpayer puts as much as they can sensibly afford into a pension plan to take full advantage of HMRC's generosity."
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