Pension tax free lump sum rules overhauled

clock

The Treasury is to give savers more freedom over how they take a tax-free lump sum from their pension pot.

Under current rules people can take a quarter of their pension pot in a tax-fee lump sum after the age of 55. Rules also stipulate the money must be taken within 18 months of the member becoming eligible for their pension income, meaning the money had to be taken as a lump sum either six months before or 12 months after commencement of the income. However, Chancellor George Osborne's pension reforms now mean savers will be able to access their funds when they choose, with each withdrawal coming with a 25% tax-free element. Hargreaves Lansdown head of pensions research Tom McPhail s...

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

FCA non-advised pension transfer plans branded 'anti-consumer'

FCA non-advised pension transfer plans branded 'anti-consumer'

AJ Bell blasts FCA’s plans as ‘worst kind of regulatory intervention’

Jenna Brown
clock 23 February 2026 • 3 min read
Advisers search for more than 100,000 pension transfers via Origo

Advisers search for more than 100,000 pension transfers via Origo

In first year

Isabel Baxter
clock 23 February 2026 • 1 min read
Pension consolidation deserves more respect than it gets

Pension consolidation deserves more respect than it gets

'For me, pension consolidation is a perfect illustration of why financial planning matters'

Andy Zanelli
clock 19 February 2026 • 5 min read