Pension AA · UK 2026/27

How much can you contribute pre-tax?

Work out your Annual Allowance — including taper for high earners and MPAA after flexible access — plus carry-forward from prior years.

HMRC PTM055000 · Free · No signup
Available this year (including carry-forward)
£60,000
This year: £60,000Carry-fwd: £0

Your threshold income is above £200,000 but adjusted income is under £260,000, so the taper does not apply this year.

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What you might calculate next

How it works

Standard £60,000

Most people can contribute up to £60,000 of "relievable" pension contributions in a tax year (employee + employer + salary sacrifice combined). Personal contributions are also capped at your annual relevant UK earnings.

Tapered for high earners

If adjusted income exceeds £260,000 AND threshold income exceeds £200,000, the £60,000 reduces by £1 for every £2 over £260,000 — down to a floor of £10,000 at adjusted income £360,000.

Adjusted vs threshold income

Threshold income ≈ total taxable income minus personal pension contributions. Adjusted income adds back employer contributions and salary-sacrificed pension. BOTH thresholds must be breached for the taper to bite.

MPAA — £10,000

Once you flexibly access a defined-contribution pot (e.g. drawdown beyond the tax-free lump sum, or UFPLS), your money-purchase contributions are capped at £10,000 a year — no carry-forward against this cap.

Carry-forward

Up to 3 prior years' unused AA can be carried forward, used oldest first. You must have been a member of a UK pension scheme in those years, even if you contributed nothing.

Exceed the allowance?

You pay an Annual Allowance Charge: the excess is added to your income and taxed at your marginal rate. "Scheme Pays" can sometimes pay it from the pension itself.