Higher Rate Pension Relief Calculator 2026/27
Estimate the extra pension tax relief available if you pay income tax at 40% or 45%. Results update instantly.
How it works
Pension tax relief is a government subsidy on pension saving. The rate you receive depends on the income tax rate you pay and the method your pension scheme uses.
Under relief at source, your provider claims 20% basic rate relief from HMRC automatically. If you pay tax at 40% or 45%, you can claim the extra 20% or 25% through Self Assessment or by calling HMRC. This calculator shows the total relief and net cost.
Under a net pay arrangement, your contribution is taken from your gross pay before tax is calculated. Your full marginal rate of relief is applied automatically — there is nothing extra to claim.
How to claim extra relief via Self Assessment
- Log in to HMRC's Self Assessment online service.
- In the "Pension contributions" section, enter your total gross relief-at-source contributions for the year (your provider's annual statement shows this figure).
- HMRC calculates the extra relief owed and reduces your tax bill or issues a refund.
- Alternatively, call or write to HMRC to request a PAYE tax code adjustment — relief is then spread over the remainder of the tax year.
You can back-claim for up to four previous tax years. See our full guide: How to claim higher rate pension tax relief.
Worked example
Sarah earns £80,000 and makes a gross SIPP contribution of £10,000 (relief at source). She pays £8,000; her provider tops up to £10,000.
- Basic rate relief (claimed by provider): £2,000
- Extra higher-rate relief (claimed via SA): £2,000 (20% × £10,000)
- Total relief: £4,000
- Net cost to Sarah: £6,000 for £10,000 in her pension
Frequently asked questions
Does my pension provider claim any relief automatically?
Under relief at source, yes — your provider claims 20% basic rate relief from HMRC on your behalf. You only need to claim the extra yourself if you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer.
I'm in a net pay scheme. Do I need to do anything?
No. Net pay schemes deduct contributions from gross salary before tax, so all relief is applied automatically at your marginal rate. There is no extra claim to make through Self Assessment for the pension contribution itself.
What if my income is between £100,000 and £125,140?
This band sees the personal allowance tapered — losing £1 of allowance for every £2 of income. Pension contributions reduce adjusted net income, which can restore the personal allowance and create an effective relief rate of up to 60%. See our over £100k guide.
Can I back-claim relief for previous years?
Yes — you can submit or amend Self Assessment returns to claim higher-rate relief for up to four previous tax years. Don't leave unclaimed relief on the table.
Is there a limit on how much I can contribute?
The annual allowance for 2026/27 is £60,000 (or 100% of earnings if lower). Contributions above this limit are subject to the annual allowance charge. Use our Annual Allowance Checker to verify.