UK Tax Tools

Pension Lump Sum Tax Calculator

Estimate final Income Tax on a one-off pension withdrawal for 2026/27. Compare UFPLS, where 25% of each payment is normally tax-free, with taking tax-free pension cash first.

Your pension withdrawal

Tax-free portion

£7,500.00

Taxable portion

£22,500.00

Estimated tax on withdrawal

£4,500.00

Net withdrawal

£25,500.00

How the estimate is built
Withdrawal modelled
£30,000
Remaining Lump Sum Allowance
£268,275
Maximum tax-free cash from this pot
£50,000
Effective tax on withdrawal
15.0%

Your provider may initially deduct more using an emergency Month 1 tax code. This result estimates the final annual liability after your other income is included. Use the emergency tax calculator to estimate the first-payment deduction and possible refund.

Share

UFPLS versus tax-free cash first

UFPLS

Each qualifying uncrystallised-funds pension lump sum is normally split 25% tax-free and 75% taxable. The tax-free share uses your Lump Sum Allowance, while the taxable share is added to your other income.

Tax-free cash first

Pension commencement lump sum cash can be tax-free up to 25% of the pot being crystallised and your remaining Lump Sum Allowance. Any excess modelled here is treated as taxable pension income.

Planning regular withdrawals rather than one payment? Use the pension drawdown calculator. For all recurring pension sources together, use the pension tax calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is 25% of every pension withdrawal tax-free?
With UFPLS, 25% of each qualifying withdrawal is normally tax-free and 75% is taxable. If you take pension commencement lump sum cash first, the tax-free amount depends on the pot crystallised and your remaining Lump Sum Allowance.
What is the Lump Sum Allowance?
The standard Lump Sum Allowance is £268,275. Tax-free pension commencement lump sums and the tax-free part of UFPLS payments count against it across all your pension schemes. A protected allowance may be higher.
Why might my provider deduct more tax than this estimate?
A provider may apply an emergency Month 1 tax code to a first flexible pension payment, treating it as if it repeats every month. The calculator estimates final annual liability, not that temporary PAYE deduction.
Does a taxable pension withdrawal trigger the MPAA?
Taking taxable money flexibly will usually trigger the Money Purchase Annual Allowance, restricting future defined-contribution inputs to £10,000 a year under current rules. Taking only permitted tax-free cash does not normally trigger it.

Official sources

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Last updated 12 August 2026Tax year 2026-27

Data sources: https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension/lump-sum-allowance https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-your-private-pension/annual-allowance https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-pension

This tool is general information only, not financial advice.

Reviewed by UK Tax Tools Editorial Desk

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