A straw poll of readers suggests most believe pension tax relief will be cut within the next 2 years.

Some 54.5% of the 82 voters said yes, when asked if it will be axed within this period.

About a quarter said there would be no change in the next 24 months but 19% think there will be a reduction in the level of relief.

The poll is still open for voting below.

Andrew Pennie, head of pathways at Intelligent Pensions, said: “I am slightly surprised the majority believe pension tax relief will be cut completely within the next two years. While many see the LISA as the precursor to pension tax relief reform, I really think such a major change would jeopardise pension savings at a time when so many people need to be saving significantly more.

"People in their 40’s and 50’s are the missing pension generation; no DB benefits and inadequate private pension savings – we really need to find ways to help these people save more and achieve an acceptable standard of living in retirement.

“I suspect we could see change within two years, perhaps in the form of a flat rate of tax relief. Hopefully, any flat rate would be set above the basic rate to really attract lower earners to save more.”

“I really hope the government resist temptation and leave pensions alone for a while; auto-enrolment and pension freedoms still need time and effort to bed-in successfully and any change to tax relief would seriously undermine both initiatives.”

Claire Trott, head of pensions strategy at Technical Connection, said: “I don’t believe it will be cut within the next two years but I think we are likely to see another consultation within that time with alternatives such as flat rate/bonus payments. The extent of the backlash against EET changing to TEE last time will hopefully have made the Government consider the winder implications on saving something so drastic will have.”

She said: “The poll scores show considerable fear that it something has to give and this will likely be because of comments in the Autumn statement about the amount of tax relief that is given on pensions.

“The majority can see something happening in the short term but I feel that given the impact any changes would have for employers, employees, pension providers, not forgetting the massive impact on DB schemes two years seems to short a timescale to implement anything drastic.”