High rate relief for second job around the threshold

epiphone500

I earn 50k in my main job and am currently paying 10% plus employer contributions of 10% into a workplace pension via salary sacrifice.
I also earn approx 5k via a second job current taxed at BR due to the salary sacrifice on the main job.
Would it be more tax efficient to reduce the pension contributions into the workplace scheme to the min (5%) to gain max matched employer contributions of 10% and then pay 2.5k into a SIPP as this would be eligible for higher rate relief where the salary sacrifice will then reduce my main salary to 47.5k and therefore with the 5k from the second job 2.5k is eligible for high rate relief? If I leave the workplace pension at 10% I receive NI relief of 12% plus basic tax relief of 20% so a total of 32% I believe vs 40% higher rate in the SIPP for that extra 2.5k? My employer doesn't pass on any saving of their NI saving on to me.

[Deleted User]

£50k gross salary before pension contributions of 10% ?

epiphone500

yes gross, thanks

epiphone500

anyone able to advise? thanks

greatkingrat

If you are earning 50k+5k = 55k, and paying 5k a year into a pension, then your total taxable earnings are 50k and you aren't paying any tax at 40%. Moving the pension elsewhere will make no difference to your total tax bill and just mean you lose the NI savings.

epiphone500

because of the salary sacrifice I dont count as being over the 50k? so would it be more efficient to reduce the pension by 2.5k thus I would be 2.5k over the limit (and get high rate relief) and put the 2.5k into a LISA perhaps?