Pension contributions not treated as salary sacrifice. How to get tax refund?

chssvl

xylophone said:

How to claim higher tax relief on pension contributions

If you’re a higher rate taxpayer and your pension contributions are taken after tax (relief at source), you’ll need to fill in a Self-Assessment tax return and send this to HMRC to claim your extra tax relief.

Thanks. But, to be clear, she could do the self assessment now to claim tax relief on her contributions going forward (and possibly get a refund on what has already been paid). She doesn't have to wait for the end of the tax year to get the refund, right?

This is such a hassle!! My employers have always done salary sacrifice and I've never had to worry about this. Why would an employer not set up a salary sacrifice scheme if they can also save money from it?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

chssvl said:

xylophone said:

How to claim higher tax relief on pension contributions

If you’re a higher rate taxpayer and your pension contributions are taken after tax (relief at source), you’ll need to fill in a Self-Assessment tax return and send this to HMRC to claim your extra tax relief.

Thanks. But, to be clear, she could do the self assessment now to claim tax relief on her contributions going forward (and possibly get a refund on what has already been paid). She doesn't have to wait for the end of the tax year to get the refund, right?

This is such a hassle!! My employers have always done salary sacrifice and I've never had to worry about this. Why would an employer not set up a salary sacrifice scheme if they can also save money from it?

That information is wrong and you have already confirmed she has no reason to complete a tax return.

Self Assessment is always retrospective, the latest return that someone could complete is 2023-24 but she isn't due any additional relief for that tax year.

She can get provisional higher rate tax relief for the current tax year via her tax code and how to do that has already been explained.

chssvl

OK. That makes sense. When I read it again I thought that suggested that one could do a forward-looking self assessment. Will just have to go through the thing. Thanks!