Pension Tax Relief (UK)
Estimate UK pension contribution tax relief with the £60k Annual Allowance, tapering and marginal-rate relief.
Data verified · May 2026
How much tax relief do I get on pension contributions?
Relief is given at your marginal rate: 20% is added at source, and higher-rate (40%) or additional-rate (45%) taxpayers claim the extra 20-25% through Self Assessment.
Source: HMRC pension tax relief (gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension); Finance (No.2) Act 2023. · updated 2026
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Everything about Pension Tax Relief (UK)
📋Overview+
Calculates the tax relief on UK pension contributions for 2025/26: 20% at source plus higher/additional-rate relief via Self Assessment, against the £60,000 Annual Allowance (tapered above £260,000 adjusted income to a £10,000 floor).
💡 Best practices
- Relief at source gives 20% automatically; higher-rate relief is claimed via SA.
- Unused allowance can be carried forward up to three years.
🔢 Concrete example
A higher-rate taxpayer making a £10,000 gross personal pension contribution: £2,000 is basic-rate relief at source (you pay £8,000 net), and a further £2,000 (20%) is reclaimed via Self Assessment — total relief £4,000, a net cost of £6,000 for £10,000 in the pension.
📖User guide+
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter the personal pension contribution.
- 2
Add any employer contribution and your marginal tax rate.
- 3
Enter adjusted income to test the taper.
- 4
Read the total tax relief and effective cost.
📚Glossary+
- Annual Allowance
- £60,000 of tax-relieved contributions (incl. employer) in 2025/26.
- Tapered Annual Allowance
- Reduced by £1 per £2 of adjusted income above £260,000, to a £10,000 minimum.
ℹ️Sources & updates+
Last data update
May 21, 2026
Sources and references
HMRC pension tax relief (gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension); Finance (No.2) Act 2023.
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 Tax Relief (UK)
How much tax relief do I get on pension contributions?+
Relief is given at your marginal rate: 20% is added at source, and higher-rate (40%) or additional-rate (45%) taxpayers claim the extra 20-25% through Self Assessment.
What is the pension Annual Allowance for 2025/26?+
£60,000 of tax-relieved contributions, including employer contributions. Contributions above the allowance can trigger an Annual Allowance charge.
What is the tapered Annual Allowance?+
For high earners, the allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 of adjusted income above £260,000, down to a £10,000 minimum.
Can I carry forward unused pension allowance?+
Yes. You can carry forward unused Annual Allowance from the previous three tax years, provided you were a member of a registered pension scheme in those years.