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Pension tax relief calculator

Computed on the real 2026/27 bands, including the personal allowance taper and the reclaim higher-rate taxpayers routinely leave with HMRC.

Lands in pension
£5,000
True cost to you
£4,000
Total tax relief
£1,000
Effective relief rate
20%

How it lands (relief at source): you pay in £4,000, HMRC adds £1,000 automatically.

Bands used: personal allowance £12,570, higher rate above £50,270, additional above £125,140, with the allowance taper above £100,000 (2026/27, England/Wales/NI; Scotland differs). Around £50,270 and £100,000 to £125,140 the effective relief spikes, which is why contributions timed against those cliffs work so hard. Workplace salary-sacrifice schemes work differently (and usually better, saving National Insurance too).

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What it costs, what HMRC adds, what to reclaim.

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Educational information, not financial advice. Figures current as of July 2026 where dated; allowances and rates change, so check the source before acting.