THIS IS MONEY

Money - Pensions

The Trust Registration Service received a flurry of filings last January, the most recent period for which data is available. read

Only half of us receive the full new state pension. But there's one really easy thing that you can do to make sure that you get as much as possible. read

Where is the best place to invest your pension? Holly Mackay, of Boring Money, has tried out all the major providers and shares the seven rated as her best buys for 2026. read

Can this pension be left to my daughter in the event of my death? If not what can I do to secure that my money goes to her? I don't want it going to the government! read

You can believe it or not, but ­regular saving into a pension from an early age can make you richer in retirement than you ever dreamed possible. read

Savers who use a Lifetime Isa to build their retirement pot will bear the brunt of changes being considered by the Government to the Lifetime Isa. read

I have run my own business for the past ten years and while I have put some money aside into a pension, it hasn't been as much or as regularly as I should have done. read

Do you have a money question for one of our star experts and columnists? They all have a wealth of experience and knowledge they are keen to share. read

If I die before my husband and still haven't touched my pension, will my daughter get this and how does this work as far as inheritance tax is concerned? read

Former Pensions Minister Steve is This is Money's Agony Uncle. Here's where you can check out all his previous columns to see if any involve issues affecting you. read

This is Money's star agony uncle Steve Webb receives many questions on private pensions. We've compiled his columns on 12 frequently raised topics. read

Steve receives more questions about the state pension than anything else, and we've compiled his columns on the most frequently raised topics here. read

Reverend Philip Stamp was sure he remembered saving into a pension during his days before the priesthood, when he worked at a brewery in the 1970s. read

The scheme pays a £150 credit into the energy accounts of low-income and vulnerable customers each year. read

The High Court has ordered an urgent two-day judicial review of the Chancellor's plans to hit family-owned enterprises with death duties. read

Campaigners and Labour MPs voiced fury after Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden announced that a review had confirmed payouts are not required. read

Many of us fill in a self-assessment tax return for income above the £12,570 personal allowance. So why are some people not required to do this? read

Fathima Faleel (pictured) came from a culture where pensions weren't mentioned. Now she faces a desperate race to save enough for her future. read

It is the first time NS&I has changed the interest rates on these savings accounts since March 2025. read

If we gift my house to our daughter and continue to live in it, I understand we pay full market rent. After seven years, do we have to continue paying full market rent? read

HMRC investigations are on the rise after Angela Rayner was caught having not paid the correct amount of stamp duty last year. read

Family members could start to refuse the crucial role of winding up an estate for fear of becoming personally liable for tax, warns a House of Lords report. read

Pension tax relief saved Britons an estimated £32.3bn in 2024-25, an analysis of official figures by Hargreaves Lansdown shows. read

The lives of two Bond holders are transformed on the day before the first working day of every month, when NS&I personally delivers the news. read

Most people are reluctant to downsize. It involves change, stress and endless decisions about where to move to and what possessions to keep. read

I'm all for parents - and grandparents - doing their bit to demonstrate to kids and grandchildren the value of long-term saving. read

More than four in five people thought the value of everyday items was too high in a test by a probate and chattel valuer. read

Men hold a median total of £75,000 in defined contribution pension pots just ahead of reaching 60, compared to £19,000 for women. read

If you're looking to open or transfer a pension, Interactive Investor is a good option and cashback can boost your pot. Find out whether it's worth taking up the deal. read

As older savers and investors become less willing or able to manage their money, much of that capital is inactive, not invested optimally, vulnerable to fraud or frozen by the banks. read

When Andy Machin's mother Lily developed Alzheimer's in her 70s, he knew the next few years would be emotionally challenging. read

They all pay a pittance - at best just 1.51pc - despite the Bank of England base rate standing at 3.75pc. read

Savers' cash pots have been eroded over the last two years by high inflation, but there are 1,406 savings accounts paying an inflation-beating rate. read

New figures highlight how paying death duties is no longer solely the preserve of the cash-rich, as rising house prices pull more families into the tax net. read

I am 83 and recently tried to open a savings account. The bank said I couldn't as I don't have a passport or photo driving licence, nor access to a smartphone. read

If you have no idea whether you are saving enough to just scrape by or if you'll enjoy a prosperous retirement, you are far from alone. read

The state pension means I am below the personal allowance. However, I also have workplace pensions which will take me above it. How, then, do I pay tax? Do I get sent a bill? read

Millions risk being slapped with £100 fines if they are unable to file accounts before the end of January deadline - even if it is through no fault of their own. read

My state pension is almost double the £11,973 that most people receive. It's all thanks to some key tricks that not many pensioners know about. read

It's helpful to look at what's going on with stock markets, the economy and tax, when you're about to make one of the most important financial moves of your life. read

Can you help 20 retired lawn bowlers who went to the Algarve on a bowling holiday last spring? We booked through Bowling Abroad. read

NS&I has kept the Premium Bonds prize rate at 3.6% since August. Meanwhile, we've had two cuts in the base rate, from 4.25% to 3.75 %. read

I am 67 and have two self-invested personal pensions with £400,000 in total in them. I don't need this money to live on, as I have a state pension and final salary pension. read

It was a grey and rainy day in 2014 when Katie Donegan's husband Alan asked her what she 'really wanted from life'. read

Here's a confession. Somehow, despite having written about money and business for three decades, I don't have a financial adviser. read

People on benefits may be in line for an automatically paid cold weather payment as freezing conditions and snow grip the nation. read

National Savings and Investments yesterday slashed the rate it pays to savers signing up for its fixed-rate bonds - but I still think they're worth a look. read

Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss the essential building blocks for taking control of your finances. Plus pubs, bank shares and zero bills homes. read

SunLife - which has tracked the cost of funerals for 22 years - said that even a simple attended funeral now costs £3,828 on average. read

The number facing a 'simple assessment' tax demand has surged as more breach the frozen £12,570 threshold. read

When Linda met her soulmate, John, it was like the storyline of a romcom. They were just neighbours until 1999, when a twist of fate brought the pair closer together. read

Government plans to slap inheritance taxon pensions are already galvanising families into action to protect estates before rules change in just over a year's time. read

Savers are piling money into cash Isas at breakneck speed to avoid paying tax on their interest. read

The goal for many adults is to retire at 60 or even younger. But leaving the workplace early takes planning, guts and perseverance. Fail to and you run a real risk of running out of money. read

The state pension is the bedrock of your retirement income. But many people wrongly believe it is a fixed amount for everyone - in fact you have far more control over it than you probably ­realise. read

Those who need to submit a self assessment must do so by 31 January, but the process can sometimes be confusing. read

Local authorities spend around a quarter of the council tax they collect on pension contributions for staff. read

Fear that a cash-strapped Government might come after pensions with new rules, caps and taxes is unlikely to let up in the coming year. read

The Chancellor has rejected calls for a 'pensions tax lock' - a commitment not to reduce the amount people can withdraw from their pots tax-free. read

Homeowners saw rates go down this year, as the base rate fell four times. Does 2026 hold further cuts from the Bank of England - and what influences this? read

Interest in pensions was intense this year and our star columnist Steve Webb fielded many questions - on the state pension age, tax-free cash, artificial intelligence, and more. read

Although money resolutions will not be to the fore on New Year's Eve, I do have a number of personal finance 'wishes' for the year ahead that I would like to share... read

Heather has fielded questions about accidental landlords, setting up a trust for a vulnerable adult, and avoiding inheritance tax if you own a listed building this year. read

When it comes to tax-efficient financial planning, paying attention to what the very wealthy do can reap rewards. Those with complicated tax affairs and advisers on hand know how to maximise cash. read

On this final 2025 episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert take a quick ride through this year and what it meant for our finances. read

After the barrage of tax hikes on workers, landlords, savers and homeowners this year, it is now even harder to hold on to your hard-earned cash without losing chunks to the taxman. read

Steve Bentley, pictured, contacted This is Money after his UK pension firm unfairly 'blocked' an overseas transfer following a minor administrative error by HMRC. read

From next April, 100% agricultural property relief will stay for the first £2.5million of combined agricultural and business assets to help protect family farms. read

Bars face an average hike of 15% in business rates next year, costing them an extra £1,400, UK Hospitality analysis shows. read

Millions of workers are saving less into their pension than they think - and it could cost them as much as £168,621 when they retire. read

Concerns ranged from a cut to cash Isas, which did arrive, to fears the Chancellor would also take an axe to pension lump sum allowances, which did not. read

The collapse of life insurance company Equitable Life happened 25 years ago this month but is still casting a long shadow. read

Before I started my business 20 years ago, I saved into a workplace pension for about five years but other than that I have never saved into a pension read

In the 12 years that Andrew Penman has been looking after his uncle Richard's affairs, the total paid in care home fees comes to over £500,000. read

The NHS offers full funding for people requiring 'continuing healthcare' with complex care needs. read

Freetrade is improving its platform in 2026, which should help pension investors save more in fees. Here's what's changing - and how it compares with rivals. read

Gifting money at Christmas can be a wonderful way for parents and grandparents to have a meaningful and long-term impact on their loved ones' lives. read

An estate agent has pinpointed a new trend known as the 'Roger' - a parent of a small child who is 'reliant on grandparents and equity release' to make ends meet. read

Halifax, Santander and Lloyds all have savings accounts so shameful that I urge you to check if you hold your money in one - and if so move it straight away. read

Two retirees with identical portfolios and average returns can end up with vastly different financial outcomes. This is due to the order of their investment returns. read

A corner of the UK with a surface area of 4,148 sq km and a population of 2m is the luckiest place for winning a £100,000 Premium Bonds prize. read

As of December 1, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme limit will rise to £120,000 from the current rate of £85,000. read

Almost a quarter of the population of the UK hold Premium Bonds with the hope of becoming a millionaire in one of the monthly prize draws. read

Mark George, pictured, was told he was owed a £1,300 refund by HMRC, which then failed to hand it over. read

Retirement savers have been forced to turn to Facebook groups for vital information about their pension savings, one of the nation's biggest providers warns. read

There's no doubt that 2025 will go down in history as the year that artificial intelligence (AI) became entrenched in our day-to-day lives. read

If you are preparing to retire in 2026, or in the near future, there are many things to consider. read

Lawyers and other professionals warn that it can be costly and complicated to close down a trust. Here's what you need to know. read

The notion that millions of people can manage without access to proper financial advice is, frankly, for the birds. read

A battle has broken out at the top of the fixed-rate best buy tables as banks and building societies vie for your cash. read

Protecting your pension wealth has scarcely been more important following Rachel Reeves' latest tax-grabbing Budget. Protect and grow your pension by following five simple steps. read

Rachel Reeves has guaranteed younger pensioners a tax handout - while retirees over the age of 75 have been excluded. read

When you walk down the aisle with the love of your life, you might dream of a beautiful home, large family - and growing old together care-free. But getting divorced can throw your future off course. read

The ultra wealthy are fed up of Britain's high taxes and have started leaving the country - and who can blame them. read

Sipps give you control over your pension investments. The best Sipp provider will be low-cost, while offering what you need to reach your goals. See our top picks. read

Savers in their droves were panicked into pulling tax-free cash out of their pensions before the Budget for fear of a clampdown on the perk. read

Analysis shows that those on middle incomes are set to be worst hit by Rachel Reeves' plan to charge National Insurance on pension contributions over £2,000 per year. read

There's one particular job in which you can bag an extra £10,000 a year of income in retirement in just 12 years of work, analysis for The Mail on Sunday has found. read

With the Chancellor adding more than £20billion to tax bills in her Budget last week, households across the country will be feeling the squeeze. read

The cost of gold-plated public sector pensions has ballooned to almost £6trillion this year, while private sector workers face a Budget raid on their retirement saving. read

Evidence has been stacking up confirming the damage that the Chancellor inflicted on the long-term savings plans of hard-working people in the run-up to last month's Budget. read

The most likely impact is lower employer contributions overall for staff pensions by those paying in more than the minimum, says the former Pensions Minister. read

The Government is going to explore ways to avoid pensioners having to pay a small amount of tax should the state pension start exceeding the personal allowance. read

Pension freedoms mean retirees can now invest their savings how they like rather than buy a stingy annuity. But what do you need to consider and plan ahead for when funding retirement this way? read

Late in working life, pension savers typically see their pots shifted out of stock markets and all or part way into bonds. Here's what you need to know about pension lifestyling... read

Investors can rack up big losses early on and never make them up if they aren't careful. People who persist in taking an income can pile up future problems. read

The daunting task of working out and paying inheritance tax must be done in the immediate and intense period of grief after a death. Read our guide on what to do... read

If you are new to investing, and feel lukewarm at the prospect, one easy and potentially lower cost option open to people with a work pension is to top it up instead. read

Turning pension funds into an income is among the most important financial moves you will make in your life. What help will your work pension scheme provide? read

Auto enrolment into work pensions takes the hassle out of saving for retirement, but you could be missing a trick or two by not looking any further than that. read

James Urquhart-Burton, head of continuing healthcare claims at Winston Solicitors, explains how to make an application for yourself, or a loved one. read

James Urquhart-Burton, head of continuing healthcare claims at Winston Solicitors, lays out the potential grounds for objecting to an NHS refusal. read

This depends on when the surviving partner reaches or has passed state pension age and their spouse's date of birth and National Insurance record. read

PIP is tax free and is not affected by your income or savings, or most other benefits. We explain the rules, how to apply, and where you can turn for help below. read

Pension credit boosts your weekly income and opens the door to a lot of additional help with housing costs, heating, council tax, TV licences and other bills. read

There are many legal ways to dodge the dreaded 40 per cent 'death tax' if you want to pass on the maximum sum possible and are prepared to plan ahead. read

The 40% inheritance tax rate is drastically high - but only applies if you have amassed enough assets for your loved ones to become liable on some chunk of them. read

Appointing a trusted family member or friend as attorney to take over your affairs if you fall ill is a relatively straightforward business. Here's how it works. read

When it's time to stop work and enjoy retirement, you need to make the most of the money you have saved. We explain what you need to know. read

Everyone is allowed to save for retirement out of untaxed income up to a pretty generous level every year, including the highest earners. So how does it work? read

Savers collect a string of pension pots during their working lives but many never bother merging any of them. You can lose valuable benefits though - here's what to weigh up. read

We explain changes to the state pension age, so you can find out when you will be allowed to retire read

There are many tax traps for the unwary when it comes to pensions. It's especially important to find out about them if you don't get financial advice when you access your fund. read

It will be little consolation for the loss of your health, but there are ways to use your pension pot to relieve money troubles should you find yourself in this sad situation. read

If you have the right accountant in your corner, it can save a lot of stress and ensure you don't get stuck paying incorrect amounts of tax, says our columnist Heather Rogers. read

Do you ever receive your tax code in the post, look at it and not really understand what it means? Heather Rogers explains how to check it is correct, so you don't overpay tax. read

Have you received a tax code that is incorrect? Tax expert Heather Rogers explains the most common errors that crop up, and how to get HMRC to put them right. read

Job switching, auto enrolment with every move, and people's tendency to lose info and not update contact details are all behind the rise in orphaned pots. read

We decode some of the jargon, from the more commonplace to the exotic, that you might come across when exploring your pension options. read

When someone dies it is essential to deal with their estate, which is made up of their home, savings and investments and belongings. We explain probate. read

My wife is an executor to the will so might she be liable for any tax the charities have to pay? Estate planning expert Ian Dyall replies. read

Could we give the pension withdrawals to our daughters as gifts from excess income and keep them outside inheritance tax? William Stevens of Killik & Co replies. read

Will the money invested in our rental property have to be handed back to pay for any ongoing care for my mother? Lawyer Ben Tyer, pictured, replies. read

My daughter, her partner, child and baby due this spring live with us as they cannot afford to rent or buy somewhere. Lawyer Rachel Waller tackles the issue. read

My husband died before the age of 75 and I inherited his Sipp. Will I still be allowed to draw on it tax free from April 2027? Financial planner Michelle Holgate replies. read

Since as of April 2027 my pension will be in my estate for inheritance tax, is there any advantage for keeping money there? Ray Black of Money Minder replies, read