Pension Tax Relief Calculator
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Guidance, not advice. We explain the rules, we don't assess your situation. Always seek financial or tax advice from your accountant, or contact HMRC. Read our editorial scope →
Calculate your pension tax relief, check annual allowance limits, and plan carry forward from previous years.
Estimates only – not tax advice. For planning purposes only; does not replace professional advice or official HMRC calculations. Full disclaimer
Income & Contributions
Employment + self-employment income
Contributions paid by your employer (counts towards Annual Allowance)
Annual Allowance Taper
For high earners, the Annual Allowance may be tapered down
Net income minus gross personal pension contributions
Threshold income plus employer contributions and any pension input amount
Carry Forward
Unused Annual Allowance from the previous 3 tax years can be carried forward
Full Mode
Tax Relief Breakdown
£5,000.00
Contribution by Tax Band
Tax Relief
Effective Relief Rate
20.0%
Your £5,000 contribution costs you £4,000 net
Contribution Breakdown
Your £5,000 gross contribution costs you £4,000 after tax relief
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Assumptions used in this calculation (click to expand)
What this calculator assumes
- Contributor is a UK relevant individual with relevant UK earnings ≥ contribution.
- Standard Annual Allowance £60,000 unless tapered; taper begins at adjusted income £260,000.
- Carry forward draws from the three prior tax years, oldest first.
- Relief at source (RAS) or net-pay arrangement gives basic-rate relief upfront; higher-rate relief claimed via Self Assessment.
- Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) is NOT triggered unless explicitly modelled.
Not included in this calculation
- Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA, £10,000) triggered by flexi-access drawdown.
- Lump Sum Allowance and Lump Sum & Death Benefit Allowance post-LTA abolition.
- Defined Benefit (DB) pension input amounts using HMRC factor of 16x.
- Scheme Pays election for AA Charge.
- Overseas pension contributions and migrant member relief.
Statutory basis
FA 2004 Pt 4 (registered pension schemes)FA 2004 ss.227–228ZA (Annual Allowance and tapered AA)FA 2004 ss.228A–228C (carry forward)
How this is calculated (click to show the formula)
Pension tax relief
Relief = Gross contribution × Marginal Income Tax rate (capped at the lower of relevant earnings and Annual Allowance + carry forward)
Relief is given at the contributor's marginal rate. Contributions above the Annual Allowance (after taper and carry forward) suffer the Annual Allowance Charge at the marginal rate.
Important Information
This tool applies current rules for pension tax relief, annual allowance, carry forward and tapering, based on the figures you provide.
It does not model every special case (such as Money Purchase Annual Allowance or defined benefit accrual) and is intended for planning alongside professional advice.
Calculations use HMRC published rates for the selected tax year.