Taxation of Pensions Bill 2014-15

This paper has been prepared for Second Reading of the Taxation of Pensions Bill 2014-15, scheduled for 29 October 2014. At present, most people with defined contribution (DC) pension savings use them to buy an annuity. This is because pension tax legislation allows lump sum or flexible withdrawals only in limited circumstances. In Budget 2014, the Government announced that from 6 April 2015, people aged 55 and over would be able to access their DC pension savings when and how they choose, subject to their marginal rate of income tax. The Bill would make changes to pension tax legislation to implement this. It would also restrict and reduce certain tax charges applying to death benefits. Related changes, such as the provision for the introduction of a guidance guarantee and a prohibition on transfers from some public service defined benefit pension schemes, except to other DB schemes, are in the Pension Schemes Bill 2014/15.