Qualified earnings - but what happens when you get a pay rise?

xylophone

Your gripes are probably better directed in any (mis-)communication regarding overall remuneration.

There is certainly a lack of communication about the scheme - I am at a loss to understand why there is no scheme booklet/ contractual information etc which at least explains what type of pension the employer is offering.

Baffledbutbattling

Yes xylophone - it’s the lack of Comms which is at the heart of this, and a realisation that you do need to understand pensions, however opaque the firm or scheme, or face a pretty meagre income in old age. I’ve been working for years and am staggered at the skinny company pension schemes on offer now.

Number75

Are your over payments regular or sporadic?

I pay to a private pension and get basic rate tax relief added automatically by them. It would be the same for AVCs.

I'm also a HRT payer. I've done that 3 ways:
- made a one off payment mid tax year, rang HMRC and they increased my tax code for remainder of the year so I got the relief back in my take home pay
- called HMRC at the start of the tax year when I knew I'd make a regular payment, and had the code adjusted in advance
- made a large payment 3 days before the end of the tax year so couldn't adjust it within tax year, called them, gave the amount verbally and fortnight had a letter telling me to log on to my personal tax account to request the bank transfer within 5 days

In each case, it's been one simple phone call, nothing in writing, all dealt with efficiently and politely.