80% will slash pension savings if tax relief cut

A third of savers said they would switch their contributions to an ISA, while just one in five people would continue to save into a pension at the same level if the higher rate tax relief was cut. Others said they would choose alternative investments, including property.

Twice as many over 55s would favour an ISA versus a pension after a tax relief cut. Of those aged 18-24 who are starting to save, 43% would put more into an ISA versus 32% who would stick with a pension.

An announcement ending the 40 and 45% pension tax relief rates at next month’s Budget has been widely predicted since George Osborne launched a review into tax relief last year, with one option being to tax pensions like ISAs. This would see tax relief removed altogether, but a flat rate of tax relief has become increasingly likely.

David Harrison, Managing Partner at True Potential, said:

“Pensions are deeply unpopular, poorly understood and deny people access to their own money for decades. The only reason for choosing a pension is tax relief, which if cut, would dramatically reduce the appeal.
 
“ISAs are far more simple and popular but to be a viable alternative to a pension, the Chancellor would need to increase the annual allowance to at least £25,000 and provide an incentivising top-up on individuals’ contributions. If he wants to get rid of pension tax relief he needs to turbo-charge ISAs in this way.
 
“A flat rate of tax relief without enhancing ISAs is a watered down compromise that could actually make the Savings Gap worse and save far less for the Treasury than it wanted.”