Seeking retroactive higher tax rate refunds through SIPP contributions

Willmhase

Good afternoon,
I would like to understand if I can pay into my SIPP in order to reclaim tax I've paid in the higher rate tax bracket over the past few years.
I've been with my current employer for 10 years and I currently earn £66k. I've always been enrolled on a workplace pension scheme but have not invested towards my retirement outside of this. I've only just created my one and only SIPP. As a result, I've continually paid tax at the higher rate of income tax rather than salary sacrificing to keep me under the higher rate threshold.
I understand I can pay into a pension (SIPP of otherwise) a maximum of £60k during a given tax year. I also understand I can pay this £60k pension contribution for up to the past 4 years.


I would like to know if I can do the following:

2026/27 tax year (current tax year).
Gross Salary £66k.
Workplace DC pension through salary sacrifice - my contribution 5%, employer contribution 5%.
Additional DC contributions through salary sacrifice - nothing yet but will aim to place £1.5k per month from July which should bring me under the £50k higher rate tax threshold.
Wanted action - none as will be under the threshold.

2025/26 tax year.
Gross Salary £64k.
Workplace DC pension through salary sacrifice - my contribution 5%, employer contribution 5%.
Additional DC contributions through salary sacrifice - £2k per month for enough months to bring me under the £50k higher rate tax threshold.
Wanted action - none as came in under the threshold.

2024/25 tax year.
Gross Salary £62k.
Workplace DC pension through salary sacrifice - my contribution 5%, employer contribution 5%.
Additional DC contributions through salary sacrifice - zero.
Wanted action - I paid approx £12k of Gross salary within the 40% higher tax threshold during this tax year. Is it possible to pay, say, £15k into my SIPP which will retroactively bring me under the 40% higher rate tax threshold for the 2024/25 tax year and therefore I should receive a large tax rebate?

2023/24 tax year.
Gross Salary £60k.
Workplace DC pension through salary sacrifice - my contribution 5%, employer contribution 5%.
Additional DC contributions through salary sacrifice - zero.
Wanted action - I paid approx £10k of Gross salary within the 40% higher tax threshold during this tax year. Is it possible to pay, say, £12k into my SIPP which will retroactively bring me under the 40% higher rate tax threshold for the 2023/24 tax year and therefore I should receive a large tax rebate?

I had paid the higher rate tax for several years prior but I understand I cannot seek a tax rebate for more than four years back.

Is what I would like to do possible? If it is, I understand there are two methods to action this. One is through a self-assessment tax return (I've not completed one before). The other is through HMRC's online service for higher/additional rate tax payers.

So for an example, let's say for the 2024/25 tax year where I want (need) to pay £15k into my SIPP - would I pay £9k and the remaining £6k goes into my SIPP via the HMRC tax rebate, or do I pay the full £15k and HMRC provides me with a £6k cash refund?

I believe if this is all possible then what I will have missed out on is the NI saving and the loss of £500 personal savings interest allowance. Although both would be nice to receive, I think the additional 20% (20% basic + 20% higher) tax rebate is the key aim.

If you are able to advise this will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Simple answer is no. You can only ever get tax relief in respect of the tax year you can make contributions for.

And you cannot back date pension contributions.

Albermarle

Backdating of pension contributions to previous tax years is not possible.

QrizB

If you are able to advise this will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

Sadly, you'd need a time machine.

As stated above you can only get pension tax relief in the current year, so you'd need to go back to 2023/24 to make the £12k payment, and to 2024/25 to make the £15k payment.

DRS1

You could of course make those contributions to your SIPP this tax year but all you'd get is the basic rate tax relief reclaimed by the SIPP no higher rate relief.

Just so you know if you make a net contribution of £8k to your SIPP the SIPP reclaims 25% of that (£2k) so the gross contribution is £10k - that £2k is 20% of the gross £10k.

If any higher rate relief is due then that goes to you (maybe by reducing your tax bill or maybe as a repayment) not to the SIPP.

kermchem

Once a new tax year starts the only thing you can do that impacts on the old tax year is to make gift aid contributions. Hence all the adverts and fuss from pension companies in February and March to use your allowance before tax year end.

Willmhase

Thanks all for your responses.
Those weren't the answers I was hoping to receive. Oh well, I've missed out on all that money (the tax paid).

HedgehogRulez

interrestingly your taxes pays for public services, salaries and inefficiencies!