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RETIREMENT
MONEY PURCHASE ANNUAL
ALLOWANCE REDUCTION
Discouraging individuals who seek to abuse the flexible pension rules
THE MONEY PURCHASE ANNUAL ALLOWANCE (MPAA) REDUCED FROM
£10,000 TO £4,000 FROM APRIL 2017. INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED WILL BE THOSE
WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO FLEXIBLE ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS (IF THEY HAVE
TAKEN BENEFITS ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR TAX-FREE CASH FLEXIBLY) TO
DRAW FUNDS FROM THEIR PENSION SAVINGS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MONEY PURCHASE PENSION SCHEMES.
The MPAA was introduced by the
Taxation of Pensions Act 2014
on 6 April 2015. It is designed
to discourage individuals who seek to
abuse the flexible pension rules to avoid
tax and potentially National Insurance
contributions by introducing a lower
alternative annual allowance where
flexibility has been accessed.
TAX CHARGE AT THE INDIVIDUAL’S
HIGHEST MARGINAL RATE
More than 500,000 people who have
accessed pension freedoms since April 2015
will see this applied. Contributions above
the annual allowance to a money purchase
(defined contribution) scheme will attract
a tax charge at the individual’s highest
marginal rate. The Government estimates
the yield from this restriction will be
£70 million in 2017/18, rising to £75 million
in 2021/22.
SIGNALLING THE END OF THE
NOTION OF PENSION FREEDOMS
This reduction signals the end of the notion of
pension freedoms, facilitating a gradual shift
from work to retirement where individuals
over age 55 facing challenges accessing the
labour market could dip into their pension
and then return to work and build more
pension value.
Individuals considering withdrawals will
have to decide whether they are prepared
to sacrifice the majority of their pension
allowance for doing so. t
WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE
THE MOST OF YOUR
RETIREMENT OPTIONS
Regardless of the life stage you have arrived
at, it is important to receive expert and
professional advice on your pension plans
and requirements. Whether you need to set
up or review existing retirement planning
strategies, we can help you make the most
of your retirement opportunities. For further
information, please contact us – we look
forward to hearing from you.
A PENSION IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. THE
FUND VALUE MAY FLUCTUATE AND CAN GO
DOWN, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON
THE LEVEL OF PENSION BENEFITS AVAILABLE.
YOUR PENSION INCOME COULD ALSO
BE AFFECTED BY INTEREST RATES AT THE
TIME YOU TAKE YOUR BENEFITS. THE TAX
IMPLICATIONS OF PENSION WITHDRAWALS
WILL BE BASED ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES, TAX LEGISLATION AND
REGULATION, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
Published by Goldmine Media Limited
Basepoint Innovation Centre, 110 Butterfield, Great Marlings, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8DL
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