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!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Small pension - options

My wife has a small, old pension with standard life (value c. 20,000).

The pension start date is now only one year away (when she is 55) and we need to think about options.

We don't need the money (either the lump sum or the pension) and want to make sure we take the tax efficient route.

Is the best thing to simply defer to a later date or something else.

We won't have any other pension income in the year although other income sources will almost certainly take us into the higher rate.

Thoughts?
Money won't buy you happiness....but I have never been in a situation where more money made things worse!

Comments

  • Most tax efficient would be to defer, for ever. No tax will whatsoever will need to be paid then.

    Will income reduce to basic rate level in the future?
  • Marine_life
    Marine_life Posts: 1,059 Forumite
    Hung up my suit!
    Will income reduce to basic rate level in the future?

    Unlikely as we will have investment income and other pensions that will take us over the threshhold.
    Money won't buy you happiness....but I have never been in a situation where more money made things worse!
  • kidmugsy
    kidmugsy Posts: 12,709 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    She could either leave it all alone, or take the TFLS and leave the rest alone, eventually to be bequeathed to whomsoever she likes. That's efficient from the point of view of IHT. It would also be emergency backup in case things don't go to plan and she does become a basic rate payer.
    Free the dunston one next time too.
This discussion has been closed.
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
  • 353.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455K Spending & Discounts
  • 246.5K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 602.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178K Life & Family
  • 260.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K 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.