How do I work out my tax?
Pensioners
If you are a pensioner, you might have a few different sources of income. In particular, you may have a state pension, but also a private or an occupational pension. You need to be able to work out your tax so that you can check you are paying the correct amount.
How do I work out my tax?
The tax year runs from 6 April one year to 5 April the next.
Working out your tax position is basically a four stage process, which we set out in the tax basics section. In stages one and two, you have to work out your taxable income and any allowances or deductions you are entitled to. On this page, we provide information on:
- Stage one – taxable income; and
- Stage two – reliefs and allowances
that relate to pensioners.
You also need to be able to check your coding notice.
You will also have to pay tax on any other taxable income that you have in the tax year.
Example calculations
For most pensioners with simple tax affairs the way the tax calculation works is as set out below.
|
Total taxable income – most income is taxable although some sources may be tax free |
xxxx |
|
Take off certain tax allowances |
(xxxx) |
|
Take off the blind person's allowance if you are entitled to it |
(xxxx) |
|
You are left with the amount of your taxable income on which you actually have to pay tax |
xxxx |
|
Calculate your tax liability using the tax rates that apply to you |
xxxx |
|
Take off the amounts you get due to any special allowances like married couple's allowance or marriage allowance |
(xxxx) |
|
Take off any tax already deducted from the income you receive before you get it |
(xxxx) |
|
Tax now due or (repayable) |
xxxx or |
|
|
(xxxx) |
An example, follows. We assume Amy in the example lives in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland and are a Scottish taxpayer, look at the tax basics section. Note that in 2023/24, a Welsh income tax applies, but the way that it works means that Welsh taxpayers will pay the same amount as someone in England or Northern Ireland.
Amy: occupational pensions, state pension and savings income
Amy was born in 1933 and is widowed. She is registered blind. For 2023/24 she has the following income – you can see how the starting rate for savings of 0%, personal savings allowance (also called 'savings nil rate') and dividend allowance (also called 'dividend nil rate') can affect your tax bill:
|
|
Income before tax |
Tax taken off |
|
Occupational pension 1 |
6,930 |
0 |
|
Occupational pension 2 |
4,360 |
796 |
|
State pension |
8,122 |
|
|
National Savings Income Bonds – interest |
2,000 |
|
|
Bank interest |
500 |
|
|
Dividends |
1,800 |
|
|
|
23,712 |
796 |
| Working out Amy's tax | £ |
| Amy's income before tax comes to | 23,712 |
| Less her allowances: | |
| Tax free personal allowance | (12,570) |
| Blind person's allowance (as Amy is registered blind) | (2,870) |
| Amy's taxable income on which she actually has to pay tax | 8,272 |
| Total on pensions: Amy pays her highest rate of tax on the pensions, so we take her allowances from her pensions first so that she pays as little tax as possible | |
| Total pension income (£6,930 + £4,360 + £8,112) | 19,412 |
| Allowances to come off (£12,570 + £2,870) | (15,440) |
| 3,972 | |
| Tax on £3,972 is: | |
| £3,972 @ 20% | 794.40 |
| Tax on Income Bonds: Amy still has part of her starting rate for savings unused, so part of her interest is taxed at 0%. The starting rate for savings limit for 2023/24 is £5,000, which when added to Amy’s allowances of £15,440 makes £20,440; take away Amy’s pension income of £19,412 and we are left with £1,028 to set against her savings income of £2,500. The savings nil rate (personal savings allowance) also applies, meaning another £1,000 of her savings income is taxed, but at 0% – meaning no tax is due. The rest is taxed at 20%. | |
| £1,028 @ 0% starting rate for savings | 0 |
| £972 @ 0% savings nil rate (personal savings allowance) | 0 |
| Tax on bank interest: | |
| £28 @ 0% savings nil rate (personal savings allowance (£1,000 - £972)) | 0 |
| £472 @ 20% | 94.40 |
| Tax on dividends: Dividends up to £1,000 are within Amy’s dividend tax allowance, meaning they are taxed at 0%. Dividends in excess of this are taxed at the dividend ordinary rate of 8.75%. | |
| £1,000 @ 0% | 0 |
| £800 @ 8.75% | 70 |
| Total tax liability before special allowances | 958.80 |
| Less: Special allowances: Amy has no special allowances, for example, married couple’s allowance | 0 |
| Less: Tax already taken off (see above): This is the tax taken off Amy's income before she receives it, so we need to take this off her tax bill | (796) |
| Amy's tax underpayment | £162.80 |
Amy has a tax underpayment of £162.80. This is tax on her savings and dividend income and it arises because these sources of income were not included in her PAYE tax code.
Where can I find more help and information?
HMRC have a tax estimate calculator for the current tax year, which you may be able to use if your tax affairs are simple. You can find the calculator and information about who can use it via GOV.UK.
If the tax checker and tax estimate calculators are not appropriate for your circumstances, and you have a low income, you may be able to seek assistance from the charity Tax Help for Older People.
