Can you leave your pension to your family?

A pension can be a tax-efficient way to pass on your money when you die. And because it doesn’t form part of your will, there are some things you need to think about now. Here’s what you need to know about leaving your pension to your loved ones.

The new pension rules have made it possible to leave your fund to any beneficiary, including a child, without paying a 55% ‘death tax’. Many people want to leave their assets to their family when they pass, and a pension is now a tax-efficient way to do this. They are not considered part of a person’s estate so are exempt from inheritance tax. Prior to the recent changes, a death tax of up to 55% was applied instead. Now, with the abolishment of the death tax, pensions could be effective vehicles for leaving money to beneficiaries. Note, that tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change. The new tax rules are:

• If you die before the age of 75 your beneficiaries will inherit your fund completely tax-free.
• If you die after the age of 75 the recipient will pay income tax on any withdrawals they make.

Another new change is the flexibility to leave your fund to whoever you wish. Prior to the reforms you could only leave it to someone who was financially dependent on you, such as a child or spouse. Now, you can choose anyone to be a beneficiary.

How can you ensure that your family will receive your pension?

• Give contact details of your beneficiaries to your provider; your pension does not form part of your will so it is essential that you remember to do this
• Be sure that the way in which you take your pension allows you to pass it on to your loved ones. In broad terms the new rules apply for those who have kept their money invested or are in income drawdown. With an annuity, you can nominate a beneficiary and pass on the income as long as it is on a joint life basis or if it has a guarantee period.
• Check how well your fund is performing to see whether you’ll have enough left over to pass on. Also take into account how much you are likely to need to live on when you retire, bearing in mind that we are all likely to be living longer in the future, which, in turn, will put more pressure on your pension pot.

The world of pensions can be complex enough when just considering what is best for yourself – let alone your family. A financial adviser can help you review your pension’s performance; features which may or may not affect its accessibility to your loved ones; and the most appropriate options open to you when the time comes to access your pot. If you wish to consider pension transfer (pension switch) they will also walk you through your options.

The details provided in this article are for general information only and are in no way deemed to be financial advice. All of the material is correct as of the publication date, but could be out-of-date by the time you read the article.