Pension Tax Relief Calculator
Enter your salary and what goes into your pension. Choose how the pension takes contributions to see the relief and the cost.
Uses the 2026/27 UK tax year figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, checked against GOV.UK on 18 October 2026. Enter the total that reaches the pension, before any relief added by the provider. This is an estimate to help you plan and not advice.
Worked examples
A higher rate taxpayer, net pay
£60,000 earnings, £5,000 into the pension
Relief £2,000, cost £3,000
The £5,000 reduces taxable income and saves tax at 40% on the top £4,730 and 20% on the rest.
Relief at source
The same, relief at source
You pay in £4,000, claim £1,000
The provider adds £1,000, and you claim a further £1000 from HMRC.
About Pension Tax Relief Calculator
Pension contributions get tax relief, so every £1 that reaches your pension costs you less than £1. The relief is at your highest rate of income tax, but how you receive it depends on how the pension works. With a net pay arrangement, your contribution comes out of pay before tax, so the relief is automatic. With relief at source, you pay in from taxed pay, the provider adds 20%, and higher rate taxpayers claim the rest.
Enter your yearly earnings and the amount going into your pension, as a sum or as a share of your pay. Choose net pay or relief at source. The page shows the relief, any extra you need to claim, and the real cost to you. It also warns if the amount is above 100% of your earnings or, with your employer's contributions, above the £60,000 annual allowance for 2026/27.
How to use Pension Tax Relief Calculator
- Enter your yearly earnings.
- Enter the total going into the pension, before any relief a provider adds, as an amount or a percentage.
- Choose net pay or relief at source, and add your employer's contribution if you want the allowance check.
- Read the relief, the extra to claim and the real cost.
Common uses
- Seeing what a £5,000 contribution really costs a higher rate taxpayer
- Finding the extra relief to claim on a tax return
- Comparing the effect of net pay and relief at source for a low earner
- Checking whether contributions are near the annual allowance
Frequently asked questions
How much tax relief do I get on a pension?
Relief is at your highest rate: 20% for basic rate taxpayers, 40% for higher rate and 45% for additional rate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has different rates.
What is relief at source?
You pay into the pension from your take-home pay, and the provider claims 20% from the government and adds it. If you pay a higher rate you claim the rest through Self Assessment or HMRC online.
What is the net pay arrangement?
Your employer takes the contribution from your pay before income tax, so you get the relief straight away at your highest rate. It does not help people who pay no tax.
What is the annual allowance?
The most that can go into your pensions in a tax year before a tax charge, including your employer's contributions. It is £60,000 for 2026/27, but it can be lower for very high earners or if you have flexibly taken money from a pension.
Is relief limited by my earnings?
Yes. Relief is only given on contributions up to 100% of your earnings in the year.