Chancellor must return to pension tax relief reform, think tank urges

Highly regressive system still needs to change

Jenna Towler
clock • 3 min read

The disproportionate nature of pension tax relief in the UK must be addressed despite the Chancellor's decision to back away from immediate changes, a think tank has said.

A Resolution Foundation report said high earners would have suffered substantial losses under either a pension ISA system or shift to a flat rate model. It said this, twinned with major disruption to the pensions industry, made George Osborne step back from planned changes. Treasury sources briefed the media last weekend. The think tank's report outlines potential gains and losses from the two main proposals - a pension ISA or flat rate relief and urges the Chancellor to return to reform plans in the future. Pension tax relief currently costs the Treasury about £35bn a year and is ...

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

IFAs 'have role to play' in tackling 'blissful ignorance' around pensions

IFAs 'have role to play' in tackling 'blissful ignorance' around pensions

Advisers must ‘open people’s eyes to the reality’

Isabel Baxter
clock 16 June 2025 • 4 min read
We need to work together to tackle pension overconfidence

We need to work together to tackle pension overconfidence

'Clients may assume they're on the right track simply because they're paying into a pension'

Ahmed Bawa
clock 13 June 2025 • 4 min read
Pension freedoms have delivered flexibility in the last decade 'at a cost'

Pension freedoms have delivered flexibility in the last decade 'at a cost'

Consumers value choice but are aware of risk of running out of funds

Jasmine Urquhart
clock 12 June 2025 • 2 min read