Is Higher Rate Tax Relief On Pensions Under Threat?

A number of commentators have suggested that The Chancellor will abolish higher rate tax relief on pension contribution in The Budget on 22nd April.

Financial Times

Yahoo Finance

These could just be 'buy now while stocks last' rumours but there may be some truth in them, given the financial pressure, which the government is under.

If in doubt, it would make sense to bring forward contributions to prior to the Budget. It is unlikely that any changes will be retrospective but this can not be ruled out.

If tax relief is removed, this should not be a reason to stop making savings for retirement. After all, at some stage, like it or not, employment and the earnings associated with it will cease. When that day comes, there needs to be a replacement source of income. This does not just need to be provided by way of a pension but as long as there is some tax relief on contributions they probably have the edge on other methods of saving. See my last blog for more information on this.