In our Lifetime allowance charge article we had some basic examples showing how the charge is applied.
As life is rarely that simple, we have some more complicated case studies to help bring the subject to life.
The lifetime allowance charge can be applied in one of two ways or a combination of both depending on how the excess benefits value above the lifetime allowance is taken. The charge is:
Emma was 57 on the 6 April 2010 and had a benefits value of £3 million. She takes her benefits in two stages - 6 April 2010 and 6 April 2022. She had not applied for any form of protection and had a tax-free cash entitlement of 25% of the benefits value.
On 6 April 2010 Emma decided to take £450,000 of her benefits value - 25% as tax-free cash with the balance used to provide an income.
Tax-free cash is the lesser of:
In this example Emma received a total lump sum of £112,500 with her remaining benefits value of £337,500 used to purchase an income. No lifetime allowance charge is payable at this time. On the 6 April 2016 the lifetime allowance reduced from £1.25 million to £1 million. As she had not applied for primary or enhanced protection Emma decided to apply for fixed protection 2016. This lets her keep the £1.25 million lifetime allowance, although there are conditions that apply. Emma cannot:
HMRC Pensions Tax Manual - PTM093400:Fixed protection - losing the protection
At the first crystallisation event, Emma used up £450,000 of her benefits value to provide retirement benefits. This was 25% of the lifetime allowance at the time (£1.8 million). The remaining lifetime allowance is used at the second benefit crystallisation event, before calculating the excess benefits value that any lifetime allowance charge would apply to. This process is repeated each time benefits are taken until the whole benefits value are used up. Emma has fixed protection 2016 and a lifetime allowance of £1.25 million. When she takes her remaining benefits (including her excess benefits value as cash) on 6 April 2022, the lifetime allowance charge that will apply is as follows:
Tax-free cash is the lesser of:
In this example Emma receives a total lump sum of £1,005,000 with her remaining benefits value of £703,125 being used to purchase an income. A lifetime allowance charge of £941,875 is paid.
If Emma hadn't applied for fixed protection 2016 and takes her remaining benefits (including her excess benefits value as cash) on the 6 April 2022 having already used up £450,000 of the lifetime allowance the lifetime allowance charge that will apply is as follows:
Tax-free cash is the lesser of:
In this example Emma receives a total lump sum of £1,031,535 with her remaining benefits value of £603,619 being used to purchase an income. A lifetime allowance charge of £1,041,846 is paid.
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.