What 🅘Is a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)?

A self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is a tax-efficient retirement savings account available in the U.K. SIPPs give individuals the freedom to allocate their assets in a wide range of investments approved by the country’s 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), a non-ministerial department of the U.K. government responsible for tax collection and the payment of some forms of state support. Approved investments include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

This is in contrast to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:company-sponsored pensions, where the company chooses a short list of investment options. SIPPs were introduced in 1989 and have become increasingly popular in Great Britain because of the end of lifetime careers and lifetime final salary pensions.

Understanding Self-Invested Personal Pensions

The self-invested personal pension illustrates some of the differences between retirement plans in the U.S. versus the U.K. In the U.S., retirement plan tax relief works in one of two ways. The first option is to invest pre-tax dollars, enjoy tax-free growth within the account, then pay taxes on withdrawals, as with a traditional 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:IRA or 401(k). The second option is to invest after-tax dollars, enjoy tax-free growth within the account, and withdraw money tax-free, as with a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k).

The SIPP employs a third option. In the U.K., taxpayers are eligible to claim tax relief on pension contributions on 100% of their earnings, up to £60,000 annually. This relief comes in the form of a refund that is contributed toward the pension.

That means that for an eligible taxpayer to put £100 into their account, they must only contribute £80. The government adds the remaining £20 to their SIPP. For example, an individual who pays the basic rate of 20% and contributes £8,000 to their SIPP account. This person is eligible to reclaim £2,000 from the HMRC, which will then be deposited into their SIPP account. There is no tax relief for pension contributions exceeding the £60,000 threshold.

Higher Earners and Tapered Annual Allowances

There are additional considerations for taxpayers who earn higher amounts and pay higher-rate or additional-rate taxes. These taxpayers pay rates of 40% and 45%, respectively, on income exceeding certain thresholds. For 2023/2024, the higher rate is charged on income exceeding £37,700 and additional-rate on income exceeding £125,140.

Taxpayers who pay these rates qualify for addition🍌al tax relief on SIPP contributions𒉰. Like taxpayers who pay the 20% rate, those who pay the higher rates would only have to contribute £80 to their SIPP to add £100 to the account.

The government adds the remaining £20; however, higher-rate taxpayers can then claim additional relief, gꦰetting £20 or £25 back when they submit their tax return. That results in an overall out-of-🅷pocket cost of £60 or £55 for every £100 added to the SIPP.

Very high earners will see their SIPP allowance decrease until it reaches £10,000. Rules regarding tapering are complicated but generally apply to taxpayers whose threshold income exceeds £200,000 and whose adjusted income exceeds £260,000. In this scenario, the SIPP allowance will drop by £1 for every £2 earned until it hits its minimum of £10,000.

Unused Allowance Carry Forward

A useful provision of the SIPP is the option to carry forward unused allowances for up to three years. Unlike American retirement accounts, which are generally use-it-or-lose-it, with a𝓰 SIPP, you can skip making contributions ⭕for a year or two and make it up later.

You're allowed to carry forward unused allowances for up to three tax years. For example, if you're a normal earner and make no contributions in 2023/2024, you're allowed to contribute up to £120,000 in 2024/2025, £60,000 in carried-forward allowance, and £60,000 for the current year.

SIPP Fee Management

As with 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:other investment accounts, managinꦅg self-invested personal pension fees is important. Individuals should see whether a SIPP charges a fixed annual fee, a percentage of the portfolio value, trading commissions, or other fees before opening an account.

It is important to choose a low-fee option to avoid harming long-term 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:investment returns. For example, a fixed annual fee might be cheaper for someone with a high-value portfolio than a♒n annual perce🧸ntage fee.

Account-holders can manage SIPP investments🥃 themselves online or hire an investment manager.

Withdrawals From a SIPP

Individuals participating in a self-invested personal pension can start withdrawing funds at age 55, even if they are still employed. Typically, individuals can take up to 25% of their funds tax-free. The plan's payout depends on the performance of the invested contributions, categorizing the SIPP as a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Tier 2 pension.

The rest is taxed as income. Once funds are deposited in a SIPP, they can grow free of U.K. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:capital gains and income taxes. Immediate tax relief in the form of additional funds added to the SIPP or relief claimed on the taxpayer's tax return will depend on the individual’s specific circumstances.

The Bottom Line

SIPPs are an option for U.K. taxpayers who want to save for retirement without using a workplace pension. They offer valuable tax benefits, both in the form of immediate tax rel♔ief ☂and tax-free growth.