Annual Allowance Checker 2026/27
The pension annual allowance limits how much you can contribute to registered pension schemes each tax year and still receive tax relief. In 2026/27 the standard allowance is £60,000, covering your contributions plus any employer contributions. High earners above £260,000 adjusted income face a tapered reduction down to a minimum of £10,000. If you have unused allowance from the previous three years you can carry it forward. This checker calculates your available allowance, flags any tapering, and shows how much carry forward you can use.
Understanding the pension annual allowance
The annual allowance is the maximum total pension input you can make to registered pension schemes in a tax year while still receiving tax relief. It covers both your own contributions and employer contributions to all your pension schemes combined.
Carry forward rules
If you did not use your full annual allowance in the previous three tax years, you can carry the unused amount forward to the current year. You must be a member of a registered pension scheme in the year you are carrying forward from, and you must use the current year allowance in full before accessing carry forward.
| Tax year | Standard annual allowance |
|---|---|
| 2026/27 (current) | £60,000 |
| 2025/26 | £60,000 |
| 2024/25 | £60,000 |
| 2023/24 | £60,000 |
The tapered annual allowance
If your adjusted income (broadly, salary plus employer pension contributions plus other income) exceeds £260,000, your annual allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £260,000, down to a minimum of £10,000. However, if your threshold income (income before pension contributions) is £200,000 or less, tapering does not apply even if adjusted income exceeds £260,000.
Frequently asked questions
The standard annual allowance is £60,000 for 2026/27. This is the maximum you can contribute to pensions in a tax year and receive tax relief. It includes your own contributions and any employer contributions combined. If your total pension input exceeds this limit, you will face an annual allowance charge at your marginal rate of income tax.
Yes. You can carry forward unused annual allowance from the previous three tax years, provided you were a member of a registered pension scheme in those years. This means in 2026/27 you can potentially use unused allowance from 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 on top of the current year allowance. You must use the current year allowance in full before using carry forward.
High earners with adjusted income above £260,000 have their annual allowance tapered down. For every £2 of adjusted income above £260,000, the allowance reduces by £1, down to a minimum of £10,000. Adjusted income includes your salary, employer pension contributions, and most other income. If your threshold income is £200,000 or below, tapering does not apply regardless of your adjusted income.
If your total pension input exceeds your annual allowance (including any carried forward allowance), the excess is added to your taxable income and taxed at your marginal rate. This is called the annual allowance charge. You report and pay this through self assessment. In some cases, you can ask your pension scheme to pay the charge from your pension pot, known as scheme pays.
No. The annual allowance only applies to contributions to registered pension schemes. State pension does not count towards the annual allowance. Contributions to ISAs and other savings also do not count.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Always consult a regulated financial adviser for personal pension planning.