Income drawdown - frequently asked questions
Your questions answered.
Guy is considering transferring his capped drawdown plan to a new provider. Can he do this and keep his plan as a capped drawdown plan or will it convert to a flexi-access drawdown plan?
Yes he can. Although it has not been possible to start a new capped drawdown plan since 6 April 2015, it is possible to transfer in drawdown an existing capped drawdown plan to a new provider without the plan converting to a flexi-access plan.
HMRC Pensions Tax Manual PTM104000: Transfers: Transfer of drawdown pensions
Guy is also concerned that transferring his existing capped drawdown to a new provider could reduce the maximum income available to him. Is he right to be worried?
No, a transfer in drawdown of a capped drawdown plan will not affect the maximum income available to Guy. The maximum income and review dates remain the same as under the transferring plan. That is to say the drawdown pension year; 3-year reference period (for the under 75s); basis amount for the drawdown year, and the nominated date, all remain the same.
HMRC Pensions Tax Manual PTM104000: Transfers: Transfer of drawdown pensions
Guy wants to take his protected tax-free cash (TFC) from his existing provider and transfer the rest to a new provider to take the benefits as income drawdown?
This is only possible if the original scheme offers income drawdown.
If Guy doesn’t have the option of income drawdown under the original plan, then funds have not been made available for the payment of a relevant pension under that scheme. Any lump sum paid will not be TFC but an unauthorised payment and subject to a tax charge.
HMRC Pensions Tax Manual PTM063210: Pension commencement lump sum conditions
What happens if I take more than the Government Actuaries Department (GAD) maximum income from my capped drawdown plan?
The capped drawdown will automatically convert to a flexi-access drawdown (FAD), so the restrictions on the amount of income that can be taken will be removed. The money purchase annual allowance will also be triggered which restricts the total amount of money purchase contributions made to all plans to £10,000 in a pension input period before a tax charge is applied.
The money purchase annual allowance explained
HMRC Pensions Tax Manual PTM062750: Payment of excessive drawdown pension
Can I take out a new capped drawdown plan after 6 April 2015?
No, new income drawdown plans set up after 6 April 2015 will be flexi-access drawdown plans. However, it is possible to start a new capped drawdown plan after 6 April 2015 but only so that an existing capped drawdown plan can be transferred in to it.
HMRC Pensions Tax Manual PTM104000: Transfers: Transfer of drawdown pensions
Disclaimer
The information provided is based on our current understanding of the relevant legislation and regulations and may be subject to alteration as a result of changes in legislation or practice. Also it may not reflect the options available under a specific product which may not be as wide as legislations and regulations allow.
All references to taxation are based on our understanding of current taxation law and practice and may be affected by future changes in legislation and the individual circumstances of the investor.