simpletons tax and pensions q

simpletons tax and pensions q

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PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,108 posts

184 months

Sunday 7th April
quotequote all
Hello all, struggling to understand this, maybe someone could explain perhaps with simple maths.

I'm in drawdown, invested with vanguard lifestrategy 60. Up until now I've been drawing income from the taxable portion of my pension up to my personal allowance, any extra required has been taken from savings or the tax free portion.

I'll be in receipt of the state pension later this year which will take up my personal allowance.

Am I better off

a) Continuing drawing income from the taxable portion (keeping below the 40% threshold) therefore taking 20% tax on the chin now?
b) Draw from the tax-free bit deferring paying tax until its exhausted?
c) Or is it as long as its broad?

With my mix of savings/ISAs/pensions, shouldn't ever need to draw so much in one year that I dip into the 40% band.

I have some life limiting medical conditions, expected to pre-decease my partner but anticipate living to over 75. I'm not really interested in annuities at this point.


PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,108 posts

184 months

Sunday 7th April
quotequote all
Slaav said:
Countdown said:
Do you want to maximise the amount that you leave to her whilst minimising the amount you pay in tax?

If so I'd suggest (b) unless her marginal tax rate is 40%
This is one of many questions requiring an answer….. speak to a professional? There are lots of moving parts involved and the answer can often be completely different for two couples with the exact same circumstances.
Countdown,

Yes pretty much it.

Slaav,

Just trying to avoid the hoops and complication (for them and me) that advice from IFAs incur. Fed up with them, kissed goodbye to the last one a couple of years ago.




PositronicRay

Original Poster:

27,108 posts

184 months

Sunday 28th April
quotequote all
supersport said:
I’ve recently been pondering this very question. I decided that my goals were

1. Minimise the amount of tax paid.
2. Maximise the amount passed down (with out compromising my life style).
3. Minimise any inheritance tax.
4. Ensure i still have a decent rainy day pot so not spending all the cash.

I built a spreadsheet that allowed me to tweak the various levers, even considering the effect of taking a DB pot earlier.

This allowed me to see the impact on these numbers.

Obviously everyone’s situation is different, so my results may not be the same as yours. I can’t rememer off of the top of my head what combination works out best.
Hi SS, I wonder if you'd be so kind as to send me a blank copy of the spreadsheet so I can illustrate things to myself?