We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Tax Free Lump Sum and 2025 Budget

Hi,

Imagine the government does remove or reduce the TFLS at the budget, how would this be implemented does anyone know?

Could they announce it as effective immediately?  Or would that breach any rules or norms about allowing people approaching or of pension age having time to get their finances in order?

Thanks,
R


Comments

  • Marcon
    Marcon Posts: 14,897 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    roadweary said:
    Hi,

    Imagine the government does remove or reduce the TFLS at the budget, how would this be implemented does anyone know?

    Could they announce it as effective immediately?  Or would that breach any rules or norms about allowing people approaching or of pension age having time to get their finances in order?

    Thanks,
    R


    They could.
    Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!  
  • roadweary
    roadweary Posts: 261 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited Today at 11:49AM
    Marcon said:
    roadweary said:
    Hi,

    Imagine the government does remove or reduce the TFLS at the budget, how would this be implemented does anyone know?

    Could they announce it as effective immediately?  Or would that breach any rules or norms about allowing people approaching or of pension age having time to get their finances in order?

    Thanks,
    R


    They could.
    !!!!!!    (v impressive redaction of a gentle expletive :) )
  • MyRealNameToo
    MyRealNameToo Posts: 1,795 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    roadweary said:
    Imagine the government does remove or reduce the TFLS at the budget, how would this be implemented does anyone know?

    Could they announce it as effective immediately?  Or would that breach any rules or norms about allowing people approaching or of pension age having time to get their finances in order?
    Parliament makes the laws so in principle they can do anything they want. Sometimes they dont change enough laws and thats where conflicting legislation ends up in court. 

    Law can be applied retrospectively even, its not common and its a headache for enforcement but in both 2004 and 2008 budgets were passed that contained legislation that made certain tax avoidance schemes that utilised loopholes retrospectively illegal and went after those that had avoided taxes using the former loopholes historically. 

    In practice its rare for it to be announced that it would be retrospectively applied however some budgets do contain announcements that take immediate effect but each year a Finance Act (or more than one) is passed that converts the budget into law and some of those may be slightly retrospective given its normally passed some time after the announcement was made so technically backdated a few weeks/months. 

    Generally bad news stories are given with advanced warning to give companies time to adjust systems etc other than when its closing loopholes that were never intended to exist in the first place. 
  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 28,783 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    roadweary said:
    Hi,

    Imagine the government does remove or reduce the TFLS at the budget, how would this be implemented does anyone know?

    Could they announce it as effective immediately?  Or would that breach any rules or norms about allowing people approaching or of pension age having time to get their finances in order?

    Thanks,
    R


    If you read through the forum, you will see many threads based on speculation about the TFLS.

    The chance of it being removed completely is less than zero.
    The chance of it being any other % than 25 is less than zero.
    The chance of the maximum amount you can take being reduced from £268K is unlikely but possible.

    As it is all speculation, and the Govt has actually said absolutely nothing about it, then further speculation on how it might be implemented in the unlikely event it happened, seems a bit pointless 

  • BridgetTheCat
    BridgetTheCat Posts: 193 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Oh !!!!!! not again 🙄
  • JoeCrystal
    JoeCrystal Posts: 3,379 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited Today at 4:57PM
    The right for HMRC to collect taxes are always retrospectively. I remember reading one article saying that if the Government ever failed to pass budget regarding the income taxes which is still temporary, they will have to refund all the incomes taxes already collected during the year, not sure how true that is!
  • Cobbler_tone
    Cobbler_tone Posts: 1,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    roadweary said:
    Hi,

    Imagine the government does remove or reduce the TFLS at the budget, how would this be implemented does anyone know?

    Could they announce it as effective immediately?  Or would that breach any rules or norms about allowing people approaching or of pension age having time to get their finances in order?

    Thanks,
    R




    The chance of it being removed completely is less than zero.
    The chance of it being any other % than 25 is less than zero.


    Are you 1000% sure about that?
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.1K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.7K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.