Last call for 2016/17 on your annual allowance…

The pension carry forward rules allow you to mop up unused annual allowance from up to three tax years ago. But legislation is complex.

The clock is ticking on using up your pension annual allowance.

The allowance effectively sets the maximum pension contributions from all sources (including your employer) on which you may be able to claim income tax relief. In recent times it has been the subject of much controversy because of the way the allowance is tapered from the ‘standard’ £40,000 to as little as £10,000 for high earners.

One reason why the taper rules have come to the fore is another aspect of the annual allowance which has received far less press coverage: the carry forward rules. These allow you to mop up unused annual allowance from up to three tax years ago – i.e. from 2016/17 onwards during the 2019/20 tax year. In theory this could mean that, before 6 April 2020, tax-relievable pension contributions of up to £160,000 could be made (£40,000 a year for 2016/17 – 2019/20 inclusive).

As you might expect, there is some complex legislation setting out how carry forward operates. For example:

Calculating how much can be carried forward is sometimes a difficult exercise, requiring detailed contribution records, so if you want to beat the deadline for using up your remaining allowance from 2016/17, start seeking advice now.

The value of tax reliefs depends on your individual circumstances. Tax laws can change. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax advice. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.