Pension idea. What's the catch?
Pension idea. What's the catch?
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Discussion

wildcat45

Original Poster:

8,143 posts

205 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I got a statement in for a little pension plan I started years ago.

There is about 60k in there.

I live in the NEast and in some areas you can get a decent recently refurbed property for that.

They tend to go for 4-500 a month rental.

Now I wont be needing to draw on this pension for 25 years or so.

Buy, rent and once expenses are out, put the income away either in another pension plan or the bank.

Is this a good plan or not?

Eric Mc

124,049 posts

281 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Profits on rent are not guaranteed.

Losses are limited regarding tax reliefs available

If you do make profits on the rent, you will pay Income Tax on those profits - psossibly at 40% or even 50%

If and when you do sell the property, you will pay Capital Gains Tax on any gains (although there are ways to mitigate this).

wildcat45

Original Poster:

8,143 posts

205 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Ah I see. So anyincome I make on top of my salary automatically gets 40 or 50 per cent tax.

My figuring was that if I bought a place outright and took any hits, no rental periods, repairs etc, out of my salary, the profit would go into ISA type accounts or another pension.

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

173 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
I'm confused.

Are you saying you want to cash in the pension scheme and buy a residential property to let instead, or that you want to buy the residential property within the pension scheme?

Eric Mc

124,049 posts

281 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
wildcat45 said:
Ah I see. So anyincome I make on top of my salary automatically gets 40 or 50 per cent tax.

My figuring was that if I bought a place outright and took any hits, no rental periods, repairs etc, out of my salary, the profit would go into ISA type accounts or another pension.
Your terminolgy is confusing. "Took no hits"?

Are you suggesting that you can own and manage a property and not incur any expenses in doing so?

wildcat45

Original Poster:

8,143 posts

205 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Sorry. Didn't make myself clear.

Cash in a pension worth around 60k and buy a house outright, no mortgage with the intention of letting it out. Then putting the money from rent either into a bank or another investment, pension or whatever.

I would propose to pay for any costs out of my usual daily income. Costs being repairs etc and covering any months where the property was not let.

The sort of places I am looking at go for around the 60k mark and typically rent for £4-500 PCM.

That seems to me to be a better return than the pension plan.

I guess though there must be a catch.

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

173 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
wildcat45 said:
I guess though there must be a catch.
Indeed.

If the pension administrator will permit you to encash it, which is unlikely, there would be a 55% tax charge imposed.

fid

2,431 posts

256 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
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Yeah, surely this biggest catch is not being able to cash the pension in!

wildcat45

Original Poster:

8,143 posts

205 months

Saturday 2nd July 2011
quotequote all
Right, didnt know I would not be allowed to cash it in.

Assumed it was my money at any stage. Then tax. Thats the catch then

Groober

775 posts

196 months

Tuesday 5th July 2011
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It can be "cashed in" if you fit a certain criteria.


cpas

1,661 posts

256 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
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If you can buy a house for £60k, and can raise the deposit by other means, then it might be worth doing this as well (if you can't cash the pension in). Even if you have to pay £200 per month or so on the mortgage (even consider interest only) this will be a bit like contributing o a pension fund anyway. Bear in mind also that whilst your tenent is paying your mortgage, the value of the house is also increasing so you win twice.

Highrisedrifter

754 posts

170 months

Thursday 7th July 2011
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If you are under 55 then 'cashing in' with definitely incur tax charges as a potentially unauthorised payment. Funnily enough, the Pensions Regulator is looking into the Pension Liberation situation. If you are over 55 then you could elect to take early retirement of a severely actuarially reduced pension plus Tax Free Cash Lump Sum.

Cash only schemes were severely curtailed after 'A Day' and now have to provide some recurring benefits plus a TFCLS.

If you are under 55 and a company says it can 'release' your pension to you, be aware that this is against the legislation and you will get hammered for tax. Absolutely hammered.

wildcat45

Original Poster:

8,143 posts

205 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
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Thanks for the replies chaps.

ringram

14,701 posts

264 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
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I thought the idea of investing was to buy low and sell high.. not the other way around!?