Claiming back higher rate tax on pension payment

JMC_4

Hi,
Due to a mistake in the assignment of my tax code, this year I have ended up taking more net salary than I should have which currently means I'm going to end up paying 60% tax on some of that net pay at the end of the tax year. In order to stop any of my salary being taxed at 60% I would like to make a lump payment into my pension direct from my bank account. My question is, if I do that, can I claim back the additional tax via my self assessment? Also, if I make that payment, I assume it needs to happen before the start of the next tax year?

Hopefully my question make sense.

El_Torro

If you do an annual self assessment then yes, you can claim back any pension tax relief that way.

Yes, if you want to get pension tax relief this tax year then you have to make the payment before the end of this tax year.

JMC_4

Ah great, thanks for the response.

DT2001

https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension/pension-tax-relief
Above is link to HMRC page about getting relief. Self assessment writing/phone call are the options. 
You are right that the payment into the pension needs to be in the same tax year as you seeking relief in.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You can get some relief provisionally through your tax code but that doesn't alter the fact that the actual position is finalised when you complete your return for the tax year in question.

And you only ever get tax relief on pension contributions for the tax year you make the payment in.  So if you pay after 5 April 2021 it will have no bearing on the 2020:21 tax year.