Lifetime allowance abolition – an update
The UK Lifetime Allowance (LTA) tax charges ceased to apply from 6 April 2023, and the LTA itself was abolished with effect from 6 April 2024. Rather than a simple abolition, the LTA has, however, been replaced by lump sum allowances which continue to limit the amount of tax-free cash that an individual can receive from registered pension schemes and from some overseas schemes that hold UK tax-relieved amounts.
Lifetime allowance abolition – an update
The abolition of the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) is being undertaken in two stages. The first was the removal of the LTA tax charges from 6 April 2023. The second will be the abolition of LTA itself from 6 April 2024. Rather than a simple abolition, the LTA is in effect being replaced by lump sum allowances which will still control the level of tax-free cash that an individual can receive from registered pension scheme arrangements. On 4 January 2024, HMRC published an updated newsletter providing further guidance on the how this will work in practice.
Should my husband buy an annuity?
Estella Bogira writes for the Financial Times on buying an annuity vs taking drawdown.