Pension Contribution Tax Relief
Work out the tax relief on a personal pension contribution, the net cost to you, and whether it exceeds the £60,000 Annual Allowance (2025/26).
Data verified · July 2026
Do I need to claim basic-rate relief myself?
No — basic-rate relief (20%) is normally added automatically by the pension provider (relief at source). Only the additional relief above 20% for higher and additional-rate taxpayers needs to be claimed via Self Assessment.
Source: HMRC — Tax on your private pension contributions (gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension); Finance Act 2004 Part 4, 2025/26. · updated 2026
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Everything about Pension Contribution Tax Relief
📋Overview+
Basic-rate relief (20%) is normally given at source by the pension provider: a £100 gross contribution costs you £80 up front. Higher-rate (40%) and additional-rate (45%) taxpayers must claim the extra relief above basic rate via Self Assessment. The Annual Allowance is £60,000 for 2025/26 (personal plus employer contributions combined), tapered for high earners with adjusted income above £260,000.
💡 Best practices
- Higher and additional-rate taxpayers must actively claim the extra relief above basic rate through Self Assessment — it isn't automatic.
- If your adjusted income is above £260,000, your Annual Allowance may be tapered down to as low as £10,000 — check with an adviser.
- Unused Annual Allowance from the previous three tax years can sometimes be carried forward if you have unused relief.
🔢 Concrete example
£80,000 salary, £10,000 gross personal contribution, 40% marginal rate: £4,000 total tax relief, so the contribution costs you £6,000 net.
📖User guide+
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your gross salary and your marginal income tax rate.
- 2
Enter your personal pension contribution (gross amount) and any employer contribution.
- 3
Read the tax relief breakdown and net cost to you.
- 4
Check the Annual Allowance and taper warnings if your income is high.
📚Glossary+
- Relief at source
- The mechanism where basic-rate tax relief (20%) is added directly to your pension contribution by the provider, without you having to claim it.
- Annual Allowance
- The maximum combined personal and employer pension contribution (£60,000 for 2025/26) that can benefit from tax relief each year before an Annual Allowance charge may apply.
ℹ️Sources & updates+
Last data update
July 7, 2026
Sources and references
HMRC — Tax on your private pension contributions (gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension); Finance Act 2004 Part 4, 2025/26.
The data in this calculator is updated regularly to reflect the latest official rates. When in doubt, consult the official sources listed above.
FAQ — Pension Contribution Tax Relief
Do I need to claim basic-rate relief myself?+
No — basic-rate relief (20%) is normally added automatically by the pension provider (relief at source). Only the additional relief above 20% for higher and additional-rate taxpayers needs to be claimed via Self Assessment.
What happens if I exceed the Annual Allowance?+
Contributions above the £60,000 Annual Allowance (or your tapered allowance if you're a high earner) may trigger an Annual Allowance charge, effectively clawing back the tax relief on the excess.