Claiming back higher rate

Organgrinder

Just hoping for a simple answer.

I have both a DB pension and a private pension. Last year I was able to advise HMRC of my contributions via phone.

This year they want a statement. 

I usually pay in gradually then near the end of the tax year I top it up with a lump sum so I don't end up paying any higher rate tax.

I don't do self assessment. 

Am I correct in thinking that once the payment has been made I can then ask my pension provider for a statement and I send it to HMRC who will then include that in my tax calculation? 

If so, is there a timescale for doing so?

Thanks in advance 

ali_bear

I don't think you need to wait for a statement, just tell HMRC what your grossed-up private pension contribution will be for the year. 

Organgrinder

ali_bear said:

I don't think you need to wait for a statement, just tell HMRC what your grossed-up private pension contribution will be for the year. 

I tried that. It's what I did last year. However, they insisted i send them a statement. 

NoMore

HMRC have changed how they process this now. They no longer take info over the phone and also require evidence. Apparently too many people were wrongly claiming due to people getting confused and reporting net pay and salary sacrifice contributions. 

You use the online claim process now. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-tax-relief-on-your-private-pension-payments

Organgrinder

Thank you. Next question about when. 

I don't do self assessment. I've just searched and it says Jan 31st for submitting pension details. If so I assume they'll just recalculate my tax again.

Albermarle

Organgrinder said:

Thank you. Next question about when. 

I don't do self assessment. I've just searched and it says Jan 31st for submitting pension details. If so I assume they'll just recalculate my tax again.

Normally if you do not do self assessment, the PAYE system will automatically calculate your tax for 25/26 sometime later in 2026. In theory it should be around August but in the last couple of years it has been more like November, give or take a month.  
The calculated tax is then compared to how much tax you actually paid in 25/26. At which point you may get a refund, a demand for more money, or an adjustment to your tax code to 2027 if the amounts owed ( either way ) are not large. 

Organgrinder

Albermarle said:

Organgrinder said:

Thank you. Next question about when. 

I don't do self assessment. I've just searched and it says Jan 31st for submitting pension details. If so I assume they'll just recalculate my tax again.

Normally if you do not do self assessment, the PAYE system will automatically calculate your tax for 25/26 sometime later in 2026. In theory it should be around August but in the last couple of years it has been more like November, give or take a month.  

Yes, this year's was incredibly late. 

However in order for the system to calculate my tax they will need details of my pension contributions. Fingers crossed I'll be able to inform HMRC in April but if I can't I need to know when I can send it in.

DRS1

I may be missing the point here but until you have made the contribution you are not going to be able to supply HMRC with evidence of it.  But once you have the evidence then you can send it to them - no need to wait until next January. (you aren't thinking you have to report by 31 January 2026 are you?  Because if you were doing self assessment then the deadline for reporting what you have done this tax year including pension contributions is 31 January 2027)

If you don't do self assessment then your tax will be collected via PAYE.  Your tax code will probably have some allowance in it for the pension contributions based on the contributions you paid last tax year (at least if you told HMRC that those contributions would continue and weren't just one offs).  

It used to be that you only needed to supply evidence for large contributions (over £10k) but it seems they are doing it for everything now.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Organgrinder said:

Thank you. Next question about when. 

I don't do self assessment. I've just searched and it says Jan 31st for submitting pension details. If so I assume they'll just recalculate my tax again.

I think your deadline is 5 April 2030.  Although leaving it that late is bonkers.

Organgrinder

No I know I can't and no I'm not thinking of this January. I'm not thinking of next Jan either although it seems to suggest I could.

I'll just send off my pension statement in April. Plenty of time I guess for the correct tax to be sorted. It just seems such an awful system. 

Organgrinder

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Organgrinder said:

Thank you. Next question about when. 

I don't do self assessment. I've just searched and it says Jan 31st for submitting pension details. If so I assume they'll just recalculate my tax again.

I think your deadline is 5 April 2030.  Although leaving it that late is bonkers.

Might be dead by then!