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Pensions

Pension reform: its future course and tax implications

The Finance Bill debate moves on to pensions measures

The system is increasingly haphazard, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned

The annual allowance for retirement savings has fallen to £40,000 from £50,000.

The change – with effect from 6 April 2014 – means pensions contributions in excess of the cap during a tax year may be subject to a charge, which must be declared on a self assessment tax return.

But unused allotments from previous periods can be carried forward for up to three years to cover excess contributions. There are two calculators:

Getting to grips with the fundamental concepts of proposed pension changes

Some doctors may have worked overseas during the early years of their careers and might have amassed offshore pension pots. When added to their National Health Service pensions the amounts may exceed the lifetime allowance

ATP Pension Service A/S v Skatteministeriet (Case C-464/12)

Administrators can report transfers of sums and assets from UK-registered pension schemes to qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes (QROPS) using the online service launched in December.

But some schemes, including retirement annuity contracts and executive pension plans that were approved before 6 April 2006, have no pension scheme tax reference code that can be used to gain online access, meaning administrators need to first digitally register each scheme before reporting transfers.

The chancellor’s claim to have axed the need for a pension annuity is unimpressive – and familiar

Views sought on tax reform of defined contribution savings

Each Taxation writer provides a tetrad of analyses of the chancellor’s announcements

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