Should I start paying into a pension - advice appreciated

AlanP_2

Terron wrote: »

You could just sell a property, assuming you bought where prices are reasonable. Better though not to have BTL as your only retirement option.

Yes, but you can't sell "half a room" as per the example I used.

Terron

AlanP wrote: »

Yes, but you can't sell "half a room" as per the example I used.

Well given that a whole property might fetch only £25k after repaying the mortgage (100k with 75k mortgage) why would you want to?
Half a room would not pay for that dream holiday, assuming you were buying where prices are reasonable, as I said.

My point is that in some areas BTL does not tie up large sums per property, which you seemed to be assuming.

Simon_Jay

Sorry to add another post at this late stage but I have been looking at sorting things and would be grateful if somebody could confirm that I have looked at this correctly. Looking at reducing salary and paying extra as dividend or to pension

CURRENT 30K SALARY

Salary 30,000
Tax on Salary (6318)
Result = 23,682

12K SALARY WITH 18K DROPPING THROUGH TO DIVIDEND

Salary 12,000
Dividend 16,592 (add emp NI, subtract corp tax)
Tax on Salary (558)
Tax on Dividend (1244) (7.5% - initial 5,000 exemption will have been used with other dividend)
Result = 26,790

12K SALARY WITH 18K TO PENSION

Salary 12,000
Company Pension Payment 20484 (18,000 plus emp ni)
Tax on Salary (558)
Tax on Pension (3072) (20% on 75% when taken)
Result = 28,854

Thank you

atush

yes you should use a pension

Dazed_and_confused

What are you basing the tax figures on as they both seem high.

Simon_Jay

Dazed_and_confused wrote: »

What are you basing the tax figures on as they both seem high.

Thanks for coming back. Maybe I have calculated things incorrectly - the tax figures are

CURRENT 30K SALARY

Salary 30,000
Tax on Salary (6318)
Result = 23,682
[THIS IS THE TAX AND NATIONAL INSURANCE IF PAID AS SALARY £2500 EACH MONTH]

12K SALARY WITH 18K DROPPING THROUGH TO DIVIDEND

Salary 12,000
Dividend 16,592 (add emp NI, subtract corp tax)
Tax on Salary (558)
Tax on Dividend (1244) (7.5% - initial 5,000 exemption will have been used with other dividend)
Result = 26,790
[TAX AND NI ON £12K SALARY PAID AS £1000 PER MONTH = £558, 18K DIVIDEND HAS EMPLOYERS NI ADDED, THEN IT DROPS THROUGH AS PROFIT SO 19% CORP TAX DUE AND THEN I PAY 7.5% TAX (I HAVE NOT INCLUDED THE 5K DIVIDEND ALLOWANCE AS I WILL HAVE OTHER DIVIDEND THAT WILL TAKE THIS]


12K SALARY WITH 18K TO PENSION

Salary 12,000
Company Pension Payment 20484 (18,000 plus emp ni)
Tax on Salary (558)
Tax on Pension (3072) (20% on 75% when taken)
Result = 28,854
[TAX AND NI ON £12K SALARY PAID AS £1000 PER MONTH = £558, TAX ON DIVIDEND IS BASED ON PAYING 20% ON 75% OF THE AMOUNT (FIRST 25% TAKEN TAX FREE)

I hope this is clearer on how I am looking at the tax but I might have it wrong.

Thank you very much indeed for your help

atush

Tax on Pension (3072) (20% on 75% when taken)

Not always correct- this is the worst case scenario. There could be little to no tax paid if you retire before SPA and use your PA

Simon_Jay

atush wrote: »

Not always correct- this is the worst case scenario. There could be little to no tax paid if you retire before SPA and use your PA

Thanks for your reply. Yes I see what you are saying. I have been looking at this further with the intention of trying to retire earlier than SPA. I am now thinking that, if I pay in to the pension in this way for say the next 8 years, stop work and then draw down against the pension. As my only income this would attract very little tax and could maybe support me for the following 7 years until SPA.

Thanks again for your help