Protection of scheme specific tax-free lump sum

Prior to 6 April 2012, the tax-free lump sum amount was based on the amount of tax-free lump sum at 5 April 2006 increased in line with the lifetime allowance. On the 6 April 2012 the lifetime allowance reduced from £1.8 million to £1.5 million but so as not to disadvantage these individuals, it has effectively been maintained at £1.8 million for these calculations. So until such time as the lifetime allowance at the time the lump sum is taken is more than £1.8 million, the amount of the increase will always be 20% of the value of the lump sum rights on 5 April 2006 (£1.5 million + 20% = £1.8 million).

How will the tax-free lump sum be calculated?

Basically the total tax-free lump sum is:

• the pre 6 April 2006 entitlement to the tax-free lump sum increased by 20% until such time as the lifetime allowance is more than £1.8 million, plus
• 25% of any increase in the value of the plan when benefits are taken over the value of the plan at 6 April 2006. The value of the plan at 6 April 2006 is adjusted proportionately to take the change in lifetime allowance since 6 April 2006 into account

Individuals must become entitled to all of their pension and lump sum rights (that were not in payment on 5 April 2006) under the scheme on the same day.

The actual formula is the same for money purchase and defined benefits schemes but how it is applied in practice is different.

The different calculations are explained below.

Money purchase schemes

This is calculated in 2 parts, the pre 6 April 2006 benefits and the post 6 April 2006 benefits. 

The first part of the formula is in respect of the pre 6 April 2006 benefits. This is basically the pre 6 April 2006 tax-free lump sum entitlement increased by 20% or in line with the lifetime allowance if that increases over £1.8 million.

The second part of the formula is used to calculate the individual's tax-free lump sum entitlement on their post 6 April 2006 benefits, adjusted for any change in the lifetime allowance from £1.5 million. It is possible this part of the formula produces a negative figure or zero. The most common reason for this is no contributions were paid into the plan post 6 April 2006 and there has been no investment growth. If the figure is negative, use a figure of zero.

Here is an example of the calculation.

Guy had a tax-free lump sum of £50,000 in a pension scheme on 5 April 2006. The value of his pension benefits under the scheme was £100,000 on 5 April 2006.

Guy took his tax-free lump sum under the scheme in April 2021 when the value of his pension benefits under the scheme had risen to £130,000.

Guy's tax-free lump sum on 6 April 2021 is made up of two elements, the re-valued amount of the tax-free lump sum as at 5 April 2006 and the lump sum generated by the post 6 April 2006 growth. In April 2021 the lifetime allowance is £1,073,100, the value of the fund at 6 April 2006 will be adjusted by a factor of £1,073,100/£1,500,000 when calculating how much the fund has grown.

The pre 6 April 2006 lump sum will be £60,000 calculated as:

£50,000 x 120% = £60,000

The amount of the post 6 April 2006 increase will be £14,615.00 calculated as:

[£130,000 - (£100,000 x (1,073,100/1,500,000))] x 25% = £14,615.00

Guy can be paid a tax-free lump sum from the scheme of £74,615.00 being £60,000 (the re-valued 5 April 2006 tax-free cash) plus £14,615.00.

Defined benefit schemes

The formula is the same for a defined benefit scheme but for defined benefit schemes the tax-free lump sum is not immediately obvious.

The easiest way to demonstrate how the calculations work is with an example:

On 5 April 2006 Helen has rights in a defined benefits scheme of £10,000 a year (uncrystallised value is £10,000 x 20 = £200,000) and tax-free lump sum of £100,000.

Helen's benefits come into payment on 29 April 2021 when the lifetime allowance is £1,073,100, it has been maintained at £1.8 million for the purpose of increasing the protected tax-free lump sum. By this time Helen's pension has increased to £21,000 a year . The scheme uses a tax-free lump sum commutation factor of 12:1.

The 5 April 2006 rights have now increased as follows:

The protected tax-free cash will have increased to £100,000 x 120% = £120,000
The value of the benefits at 6 April 2006 will have decreased to £200,000 x (1,073,100/1,500,000) = £143,080.00.

To calculate the maximum tax-free lump sum Helen's scheme administrator has first to calculate the value of the post 6 April 2006 lump sum. The total benefits crystallised will be:

[Gross pension - (tax-free lump sum/ scheme commutation factor)] x 20 + tax-free lump sum:

= [£21,000 - tax-free lump sum/12] x 20 + tax-free lump sum

= (£21,000 x 20) - (tax-free lump sum/12 x 20) + tax-free lump sum

= £420,000 - (20/12) tax-free lump sum + (12/12) tax-free lump sum

= £420,000 - 8/12 x tax-free lump sum

Total benefits crystallised = £420,000 - 2/3 x tax-free lump sum

The post 5 April 2006 increase in the value of benefits is:

[Total benefits crystallised - benefits at 6 April 2006]

= £420,000 - (2/3 x tax-free lump sum) - £143,080

= £276,920 - (2/3 x tax-free lump sum)

The maximum tax-free lump sum in respect of the post 5 April 2006 benefits is:

= £276,920 - (2/3 x tax-free lump sum) divided by 4.

= £276,920/4 - (2/3 x tax-free lump sum)/4

= £69,230 - 1/6 x tax-free lump sum

The maximum tax-free lump sum = the protected tax-free cash + the tax-free lump sum in respect of post 5 April 2006 benefit

Tax-free lump sum = £120,000 + (£69,230 - 1/6 x tax-free lump sum)

Tax-free lump sum = £189,230 - 1/6 tax-free lump sum

1 1/6 tax-free lump sum = £189,230

Tax-free lump sum = £162,197.15

After taking this tax-free lump sum the crystallised value of residual pension will be:

(£21,000 - £162,197.15/12) x 20 = £149,671.42

It's important to note that the commutation factor will determine the maximum amount of tax-free lump sum an individual can have under the tax-free lump sum rules.

Normally a defined benefit scheme will have a commutation factor of around £12 for each £1 of pension given up but this can vary from scheme to scheme. The higher the commutation factor the higher the amount of tax-free lump sum available. This also results in the least amount of pension given up in order to provide the maximum tax-free lump sum.

Scheme-specific lump sum protection and the lifetime allowance

The individual must have available lifetime allowance when the scheme-specific lump sum is paid. The level of an individual’s lifetime allowance depends on whether or not they have lifetime allowance protection and the form of that protection.

If the individual has no lifetime allowance protection, or has enhanced protection, their available lifetime allowance is based on the standard lifetime allowance. For example if the standard lifetime allowance is £1,073,100 and the individual has already had BCEs from another pension scheme using up 60% of the lifetime allowance their available lifetime allowance is £429,240. 

If the individual has another form of lifetime allowance protection then their lifetime allowance is based on the level of their protected lifetime allowance, for example: £1.5 million for fixed protection 2014.

With scheme specific lump sum protection it is possible to pay a pension commencement lump sum of more than an individual’s available lifetime allowance. If the value of the proposed lump sum is greater than the amount of the individual’s available lifetime allowance, the whole lump sum can still be paid as a pension commencement lump sum. However, the part of the pension commencement lump sum in excess of the individual’s lifetime allowance will be subject to the lifetime allowance charge. 

Further information

HMRC Pensions Tax Manual - PTM063130: Member benefits: lump sums: protection of pre-6 April 2006 lump sum rights: scheme-specific lump sum protection - overview

Note

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.