pensions

PARENTS COULD be hit by a marginal income tax rate of 78% because of the complex way benefits and taxes interact, leading accountants argue in the Daily Telegraph .

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is launching a five year research study into whether employees already enrolled in workplace pensions can be encouraged to save more with automatic increases to their contributions each year.

Over 50% of active investors are confused by the upcoming A-Day changes to pensions, claims a new survey from TD Waterhouse.

The Pensions Regulator has revealed its approach to the cross-border requirements of the Occupational Pensions Directive, in a consultation document that will last for just four weeks.

Government estimates of the cost of public sector pensions are far too optimistic because they do not take proper account of trends in mortality claims a new study from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

HM Revenue and Customers (HMRC) has delayed the requirement for online scheme reporting for six months after A-Day as the full service will not be completely operational until 2007.

Over the last 10 years contract based group personal pensions have increased in popularity among employers and the A-day changes seem likely to accelerate this trend, claims new research from Clerical Medical.

Pensions should be abolished and replaced with a universal savings wrapper called a Self-Administered Investment Trust (Saint), claims a policy paper published by the Centre for Policy Studies.

Research from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals there is a gap in the provision of advice on pensions to people on lower incomes, an area where most of the advice is given by IFAs.

Employees could lose up to £3bn in tax-free cash if they fail to protect their entitlement to more than 25% of their pension fund, estimates Standard Life.