UK pension calculator and contribution planner
Plan workplace and personal pension contributions, see the tax relief they attract, and project how the pot could grow. The full interactive planner opens in the Investment Planner.
How UK pension tax relief works
Contributions to a registered pension attract tax relief at your marginal rate, subject to limits. The mechanism differs by scheme: salary sacrifice, net pay and relief at source each reach a similar destination by a different route, but the effect on take-home pay and National Insurance is not identical.
Annual allowance and tapering
The annual allowance caps the total that can be paid in each year with tax relief. For high earners it tapers down by £1 for every £2 of adjusted income above the taper threshold, to a minimum floor. Unused allowance from the previous three years can sometimes be carried forward.
Employer contributions and matching
Many employers match part of your contribution. Matching is usually the highest-return element of a pension decision because it increases the amount invested without increasing your contribution.
Tax-free cash
From the normal minimum pension age you can usually take 25% of the pot as tax-free cash, subject to the lump sum allowance. The rest is taxed as income when drawn.
Methodology, assumptions and limitations
- 2026/27 allowances and thresholds, verified on 21 August 2026.
- Projections use the growth and inflation assumptions you enter — they are illustrations, not forecasts.
- Investment growth is not guaranteed and past performance does not predict future returns.
- Charges, fund choice and market sequence materially affect real outcomes.
- This is not regulated financial advice or a personal pension recommendation.
UK Finance Planning provides calculation and planning tools for education and comparison. It is not a financial adviser, is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and is unconnected to any similarly named advice firm. All results are estimates.
Related calculators
- Salary sacrifice calculator — Compare sacrifice, net pay and relief at source pension methods.
- Retirement calculator — Project retirement income across pensions, ISAs and savings.
- UK retirement planner — The full planning workflow: saved plans, scenario comparison, Monte Carlo and PDF export.
- Salary calculator — Gross to net pay with tax, NI and pension deductions.
- Take-home pay calculator — What actually lands in your bank account each month.