Compulsory pension contributions - NEST

From 2012, millions of workers will be auto-enrolled into pension schemes to which employers and employees will have to contribute.

"Fryer and Ors v HMRC" - tax on pension death benefits

The recent ruling in the case of “Fryer and Ors v HMRC” is another example of HMRC tightening the screw.

The case of “Fryer and Ors v HMRC” concerned an individual who deferred taking her pension benefits at the notional retirement age of 60 and died age 61. The lady in question had no need for the income at that time having sold her business.  

HMRC successfully contended that the deceased, by deferring pension benefits, had made a disposition for inheritance tax purposes and that the pension death benefits should be chargeable to inheritance tax.

Anyone who has deferred starting benefits from a UK pension may wish to reconsider their position. For those with pensions who have not reached retirement age it may be appropriate to extend the normal retirement age to 75 (assuming that no penalties apply).

Can you better the pension offered by your pension provider?

Pre Retirees who shop around for an annuity are around 50 times more likely to get a better income than those who stick with their existing pension company, says the Association of British Insurers. To read more, click on the heading above...

Handling benficiary designations

A useful summary of designating beneficiaries for life and pension plans.