Annual allowance

The annual allowance is the maximum amount which can be contributed (or deemed to be contributed) in a pension input period without the member incurring a tax charge.

The annual allowance for 2023/24 onwards is £60,000. The annual allowance from 2014/15 to 2022/23 was £40,000.

The annual allowance is tapered where an individual’s adjusted income is over the high income threshold of £260,000 (£240,000 for tax years 2020/21 to 2022/23 inclusive) and their threshold income is over the permitted amount of £200,000 (which has applied since 6 April 2020). The amount of the annual allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of the excess over the threshold for the tax year down to a minimum of £10,000 (£4,000 for tax years 2020/21 to 2022/23 inclusive).

The annual allowance and the tapering of the annual allowance is discussed in detail in the Annual allowance guidance note.

Automatic enrolment

Employers are required to automatically enrol eligible employees into a qualifying pension scheme and make contributions on the employees’ behalf. Employees may voluntarily opt out