02/06/2026
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Pension withdrawals on the rise
Growing numbers of people are taking money out of their pensions ahead of April 2027, when unused pots will fall into an estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes.
Several reports suggest that hundreds of thousands of UK pension savers are cashing out their pension pots in full, in anticipation of the proposed changes coming into force next year. Historically many savers have used pensions as a way of passing on family wealth to beneficiaries, as pensions were exempt from IHT.
But it means many people could be paying more tax than necessary. The lump sum allowance (the amount a pension saver is allowed to take tax free) is typically 25% of the pension pot, to a maximum of £268,275. Any withdrawals above this level are taxed at the individual’s marginal tax rate.
This means that withdrawing a pension in one go could push many people into higher tax bands, potentially triggering avoidable tax bills.
WeekWatch - 01/06/2026