Pension and tax relief

kellyp

Hoping someone can help. 

I am higher tax earner (40%) within the NHS. Therefore my workplace pension is taken from gross pay prior to being taxed (net pay method)

I also do self employed work and have a private pension that I pay into which is a relief at source pension. 

I can see where I put my pay at source contributions from my private pension on the tax return. 

BUT

I am really confused about whether I need to put my NHS contributions to my NHS pension on my tax return. 

If yes:

-which section should I put the value of the NHS contribution's
-do I include the employer contributions AND my personal contributions when adding this value or is it just the personal contributions. 

(Probably not relevant but I’m no where near the limit on annual amount of pension contributions)

thank you. 

molerat

No need to account for the NHS pension as your declared gross taxable pay already has it deducted, as far as the taxman is concerned you were never paid that pension amount.

Albermarle

Make sure you state your gross contributions.
So contributions + the 25% tax relief the pension provider has added.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

kellyp said:

Hoping someone can help. 

I am higher tax earner (40%) within the NHS. Therefore my workplace pension is taken from gross pay prior to being taxed (net pay method)

I also do self employed work and have a private pension that I pay into which is a relief at source pension. 

I can see where I put my pay at source contributions from my private pension on the tax return. 

BUT

I am really confused about whether I need to put my NHS contributions to my NHS pension on my tax return. 

If yes:

-which section should I put the value of the NHS contribution's
-do I include the employer contributions AND my personal contributions when adding this value or is it just the personal contributions. 

(Probably not relevant but I’m no where near the limit on annual amount of pension contributions)

thank you. 

As others have said you never include net pay contributions in the pension contribution section of your Self Assessment return.

You would enter the relief at source contributions and there is a new(ish) box on the return now so you can let HMRC if any of these were one off contributions.  That's particularly useful if you tick the box on the return to let HMRC use the information on your return to review your current tax code.

Marcon

As others have said you never include net pay contributions in the pension contribution section of your Self Assessment return.

You would enter the relief at source contributions and there is a new(ish) box on the return now so you can let HMRC if any of these were one off contributions.  That's particularly useful if you tick the box on the return to let HMRC use the information on your return to review your current tax code.

Just for clarification...'net pay' is one of the most misleading bits of pensions jargon in a field with plenty of other contenders for that title! Personal contributions are actually deducted from your gross pay before income tax is applied. You are then taxed on your gross pay after the deduction of your contributions. NI is payable on your whole gross salary.

MX5huggy

Be aware that you might be using more of your Annual Allowance than you think because it’s not just the amount you contribute but because the NHS scheme is a Defined Benefit scheme you need the Pension Input Amount which is the increase in value of your pension.
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2022-08/Process%20for%20calculating%20the%20Annual%20Allowance-20220824-%28V5%29%20.pdf