Tax relief

DRS1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935278#Comment_81935278

From your screenshot the £315 is described as salary sacrifice so you don't claim tax relief for that. The £39 is called Employee Optional so that is probably a relief at source contribution BUT I don't see any tax relief amount related to that contribution. If it was relief at source then the pension scheme would claim the 20% basic rate relief. Does that appear somewhere else?

NoMore

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935156#Comment_81935156

Not anymore, they aren't accepting reporting pension contributions by phone anymore and evidence may be required for contributions under 10k.

Personal Pension Relief — evidence requirement changes

From 1 September 2025, we will be lowering the threshold for requiring evidence in support of new requests for higher rate or additional rate relief claims to be given through an individual’s tax code for the current year. As a result, some individuals may be asked to provide evidence where it would not previously have been required.

Additionally, telephone requests will no longer be accepted for Personal Pension Relief claims. Individuals must now submit claims online or by letter.

Newsletter 172 — August 2025 - GOV.UK

hugheskevi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935305#Comment_81935305

Interesting, thanks, I missed that on the newsletter (but remember the other things, so I did read it!)

I wonder to what extent they are applying that policy change in practice though. I recently called and got personal pension relief on a £32K gross relief-at-source contribution coded-in. I'd used the online tool, but HMRC hadn't coded the correct amount, so I optimistically called with no expectation (the online tool seems to take about 4-6 weeks to process, which would have gone beyond the end of the tax year). The call operator was very good and just entered the gross contribution and coded it correctly without any fuss. It was a refreshing change for tax to have briefly reverted to not being taxing.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935278#Comment_81935278

That seems rather unusual if I have understood what you have written correctly.

You seem to be saying that you have a DB pension into which you contribute £191 per month and the employer contributes £986 per month.

However, the actuaries have advised the employer that for the scheme to be funded to meet the DB obligations, the employer only needs to have contributed £304 so the difference of £682 is paid into a DC fund in your name.

Is that what correct?

If so, that is unusual and you have a very good employer. AIUI, most employers in this scenario would either reduce the employer contributions to just meet what the actuaries indicate is required to satisfy the DB obligations (hence increasing this years' profit) or would fund the DB scheme as per the scheduled amount such that the over-funding can absorb any future under-funding.

Marcon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935278#Comment_81935278

What you're describing is a 'flexible benefits' package, where employees can make choices about the 'benefits allowance' (in your case known as the 'Benefits Envelope') to which they are contractually entitled on top of their regular salary.

Regular payments to your pension taken from your Benefits Envelope are classed as employer contributions, so there's no tax to reclaim.

Without knowing chapter and verse on any personal contributions you might make, it's unsafe to try and respond to your question here; guesswork doesn't give definitive answers. Why not book in for the next Money Matters event and you'll get immediate clarification from people who know your employer's schemes inside out: https://www.unileverbookings.co.uk

Alternatively, you could email the Unilever Pensions Team and simply ask them if any of the contributions you pay personally are being made to a relief at source scheme and might therefore be eligible for higher rate tax relief: unileverpensionsteam@capita.co.uk

johnboy13

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935299#Comment_81935299

I'm gunna contact my pension provider and ask them if I can claim any tax relief. THANKS!!!