Pension Contribution to Avoid Higher-Rate Tax
Find the exact pension contribution to drop below the 40% tax threshold
Last updated: June 2026
Pension Contribution to Avoid 40% Tax Calculator
Work out the exact pension contribution needed to bring your income back below the £50,270 higher-rate threshold (or back to £100,000 to restore your Personal Allowance). Figures use 2025/26 & 2026/27 frozen thresholds for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What this calculator does
If your income creeps over £50,270 you start paying 40% higher-rate tax on the slice above that threshold. One of the most efficient ways to claw it back is to pay the excess into a pension — doing so extends your basic-rate band, so the money that would have been taxed at 40% is sheltered instead, and it grows for retirement. This is a reverse "goal-seek" tool: instead of telling you how much relief a given contribution earns, it tells you the precise contribution you need to make to drop back below the 40% line.
It is built for UK employees, company directors, contractors and the self-employed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who have nudged into the higher-rate band — for example after a pay rise, a bonus, dividends or rental income. A second mode targets the £100,000 Personal Allowance taper trap: between £100,000 and £125,140 your tax-free Personal Allowance is withdrawn at £1 for every £2 of income, creating an eye-watering 60% effective marginal rate, and a pension contribution can restore it. All thresholds are the 2025/26 figures, which the Government has confirmed are frozen through 2026/27 and beyond.
How it works
The maths is built directly on HMRC's relief-at-source rules:
- Find the excess. Subtract your target threshold (£50,270 to avoid 40% tax, or £100,000 to restore your Personal Allowance) from your taxable income. That excess is the gross pension contribution you need.
- Gross up at source. Under relief at source, your provider reclaims 20% basic-rate relief from HMRC, so a gross contribution of £X only costs you £X ÷ 1.25 from your own pocket.
- Reclaim higher-rate relief. As a 40% taxpayer you claim a further 20% of the gross contribution back through your Self Assessment tax return (or by asking HMRC to adjust your tax code).
- Effective cost. Net contribution minus the higher-rate relief reclaimed equals your true out-of-pocket cost for the pension boost.
Note that pension tax relief is limited to 100% of your relevant UK earnings, and most people have a £60,000 annual allowance. This tool sizes the contribution for the tax outcome; check you have enough annual allowance available before contributing.
Worked example
Suppose you earn £60,000 a year and want to avoid all 40% tax.
- Income above the £50,270 threshold: £60,000 − £50,270 = £9,730 — this is the gross pension contribution needed.
- Net contribution you pay: £9,730 ÷ 1.25 = £7,784.
- Basic-rate relief added at source: £9,730 − £7,784 = £1,946.
- Higher-rate relief reclaimed via Self Assessment: 20% × £9,730 = £1,946.
- True cost to you: £7,784 − £1,946 = £5,838 for a £9,730 boost to your pension — and you pay £0 at the 40% rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I pay into a pension to avoid 40% tax?
Pay a gross pension contribution equal to the amount your taxable income exceeds £50,270. For example, on a £60,000 income that is a £9,730 gross contribution, which costs you £7,784 net (your provider adds 20% basic-rate relief) before you reclaim a further £1,946 of higher-rate relief through Self Assessment.
What is the higher-rate tax threshold for 2025/26 and 2026/27?
The higher-rate (40%) threshold is £50,270 of income for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is made up of the £12,570 Personal Allowance plus the £37,700 basic-rate band, and is frozen at this level through 2025/26 and 2026/27.
How does a pension contribution restore my Personal Allowance?
Between £100,000 and £125,140 your £12,570 Personal Allowance is withdrawn by £1 for every £2 of income, creating a 60% effective marginal rate. A gross pension contribution reduces your adjusted net income, so contributing enough to bring it back to £100,000 fully restores your Personal Allowance — switch this calculator to the "Restore my Personal Allowance" mode to size it.
How do I claim the extra higher-rate relief?
Basic-rate (20%) relief is added automatically by your pension provider. The extra 20% for higher-rate taxpayers is not automatic — you claim it through your Self Assessment tax return, or by contacting HMRC to adjust your tax code if you do not file a return.
Source: thresholds and relief rules confirmed against GOV.UK Income Tax rates and allowances and GOV.UK pension tax relief. This tool is for guidance only and is not financial advice.
Related tools: Salary Calculator · Pension Tax Relief Calculator · Pension Pot Calculator · Income Tax Calculator · All UK Calculators.