HMRC data shows pension freedoms over-taxation bill nears £1bn

Some £45m was repaid to individuals in the final quarter of 2022 alone

Jonathan Stapleton
clock • 2 min read

Savers have reclaimed £970m in over-taxation on pension withdrawals since 2015, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) data reveals.

In its January 2023 pension schemes newsletter, HMRC said more than £45m was repaid to 14,335 people overtaxed on pension withdrawals in October, November and December 2022. AJ Bell said its analysis showed this was the highest quarter four figure on record and third highest of any three-month period since April 2015. The investment platform provider said the average reclaim in Q4 2022 was £3,141, down slightly versus the previous quarter - something it said suggested more people are accessing smaller retirement pots. AJ Bell head of retirement policy Tom Selby said: "As surging in...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Pensions

HMRC updates on information sharing for IHT on pensions

HMRC updates on information sharing for IHT on pensions

Second technical note

Alex Levy
clock 01 September 2026 • 2 min read
Pension first or last? What the numbers really tell us

Pension first or last? What the numbers really tell us

'Focusing solely on reducing the pension before death can increase lifetime tax'

Joshua Croft
clock 28 August 2026 • 4 min read
IHT on pensions: New thinking on taking income in retirement?

IHT on pensions: New thinking on taking income in retirement?

‘This has undoubtedly had a huge impact on planning for many clients’

Lisa Webster
clock 26 August 2026 • 3 min read