NHS Financial Planner

NHS Pension Annual Allowance Guide

Complete guide to Annual Allowance for NHS pension scheme members. Understand pension growth limits, tapered allowance, and tax implications.

Last updated: 2025-07-22
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What is the Annual Allowance?

The Annual Allowance is the maximum amount your pension savings can grow in a tax year without triggering a tax charge. For NHS pension scheme members, this is particularly important due to the generous benefits provided by the schemes.

Standard Annual Allowance

£60,000

For the 2025/26 tax year

Tapered Annual Allowance

£10,000 minimum

For high earners (income over £260,000)

Key Points for NHS Staff

1

Pension Input Amount (PIA)

Your annual allowance usage is measured by your Pension Input Amount, which includes employer and employee contributions plus benefit improvements.

2

Carry Forward

You can carry forward unused annual allowance from the previous three tax years, subject to certain conditions.

3

Tax Charges

Exceeding your annual allowance results in a tax charge at your marginal rate. You may be able to use Scheme Pays to pay this from your pension.

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