Answers · UK 2025/26
How much can I pay into my pension in 2026/27?
The standard annual allowance for 2026/27 is £60,000, or 100% of your earnings if lower. High earners may have it tapered down to £10,000, and you can carry forward unused allowance from the previous three tax years. Tax relief applies at your marginal rate.
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The pension annual allowance is the maximum you can contribute across all your pensions each tax year while still getting tax relief. For 2026/27 it is £60,000, or 100% of your relevant UK earnings if that is lower (non-earners can still put in £3,600 gross). Contributions within the allowance receive tax relief at your marginal rate — basic-rate relief is added automatically, while higher- and additional-rate taxpayers claim extra through Self Assessment or PAYE. Tapered allowance: if your adjusted income exceeds £260,000, the allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 of income above that, down to a minimum of £10,000 once adjusted income reaches £360,000. The taper only bites if your threshold income also exceeds £200,000. Carry forward: you can use unused annual allowance from the previous three tax years, provided you were a pension scheme member in those years and have earnings to support the contribution in the current year. Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA): if you have flexibly accessed a defined-contribution pension, your allowance for further DC contributions drops to £10,000. Worked example: someone earning £80,000 who has contributed nothing in three years could potentially pay in their £60,000 current allowance plus up to £180,000 carried forward — but only up to 100% of this year's earnings, so £80,000 is the practical cap. Use the Pension calculator to model contributions, tax relief and carry forward.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.