March 2023

UK. What are the implications of removing the pensions lifetime allowance?

One of the headline announcements of the budget on 15 March was the scrapping of the lifetime allowance for private pensions. The allowance – which currently stands at just over £1 million – is the maximum that an individual can draw from their pension in their lifetime without paying additional tax. Unsurprisingly, this policy, which will come into force from April 2024, has been criticised by some commentators, as it is higher earners who are likely to benefit most. How does...

Pension Tax Limits

By Gov.UK Individual members of registered pension schemes who make annual pension contributions over the standard annual allowance (AA), money purchase annual allowance (MPAA), or tapered annual allowance (tapered AA), and who therefore expect to become subject to an AA charge. Individual members of registered pension schemes who already have or expect to have pension savings exceeding either the standard lifetime allowance (LTA) or their protected LTA, and who therefore expect to become subject to an LTA charge. Scheme administrators of registered pension schemes who will need to...

UK abolishes tax threshold on pension allowance to encourage people to work longer

British finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday said he would abolish the tax thresholds high earners face when they invest in pensions, in a bid to encourage them to keep working and reduce the number of people taking early retirement. Hunt said in his annual budget that he would scrap the so-called lifetime allowance, which had meant that people faced a 25% levy if they saved around 1.1 million pounds ($1.33 million)in their pension pots. The capped amount of money that...

UK. Budget: Pensions to get boost as tax-free limit to rise

The total amount that workers can accumulate in their pension savings before paying extra tax is expected to be increased in Wednesday's Budget. The final figure has not been confirmed, but people are expected to be able to save up to £1.8m over a lifetime, up from £1.07m currently. The policy aims to stop people - particularly doctors - from reducing hours or retiring early owing to tax. Critics say the move will only benefit a small fraction of the workforce. UK economic...

February 2023

Australia plans to limit early access to retirement funds, cut tax breaks

Australia's centre-left government said on Thursday it would push ahead with plans to change superannuation rules, including restricting early access to funds until retirement and limiting tax breaks for high-earners. The Labor government earlier this week launched a consultation on reforming superannuation - or retirement fund - saying it wanted the A$3.3 trillion ($2.3 trillion) pension system to become sustainable and equitable in the face of mounting pressure on the federal budget. "We are not trying to revolutionise the system, but...

Higher Pension Costs, Earnings Hits Loom as Interest Rates Rise

Telecommunications giant AT&T Inc. cautioned investors this quarter about a rising corporate cost would ding its full-year earnings guidance. The culprit was pensions, and in particular, higher interest rates affecting its calculation to tally pension costs.   The company said it expected adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45—a range that trailed analyst estimates—because of nearly 20 cents per share of “headwinds associated with non-cash pension costs,” Chief Financial Officer Paschal Desroches said on the company’s fourth...

January 2023

The Effect of Required Minimum Distributions on Intergenerational Transfers

By: Jonathan M. Leganza How do households use retirement savings accounts in retirement? The answer to this question is important for tax policy pertaining to retirement savings. I shed light on this question by studying how households respond to Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) regulations, which mandate withdrawals from retirement accounts upon reaching a specified age. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study and a regression discontinuity design, I estimate the causal effects of aging into RMD regulations. First, I...

November 2022

Preparing for Retirement Reforms

By Karen E. Smith, Eugene Steurele, Damir Cosic Each of the three pillars of the US retirement system—Social Security, employer pensions, and private savings—suffers from serious problems that could threaten the financial security of future retirees. Social Security is at risk of becoming insolvent. If policymakers fail to act, Social Security benefits will be cut by about 25 percent starting in 2035, and even with reform, some combination of a slowdown in benefit growth for retirees and higher taxes on...

October 2022

Tax cuts for China’s private pension scheme likely to lure participants as financial institutions vie for market share

Tax on withdrawal of funds is down to 3 per cent from 7.5 per cent, a move likely to drive participation according to analysts However, the new tax rates may have little immediate impact given the relatively small size of the taxpayer population New favourable tax policies will encourage more people to participate in China’s forthcoming private pension scheme, analysts said, as Beijing strives to ease the financial strain of a rapidly ageing population. The tax cuts, announced last week, may also...

September 2022

China to allow deferrals of gov’t-levied charges, tax concessions for private pensions

China will allow market entities to defer payments of certain government-levied charges to further reduce financial burdens, and offer tax concessions for private pension schemes, according to a State Council executive meeting. At the meeting, chaired by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, decisions were also made to enhance government services, ensure a bumper autumn harvest with improved rural infrastructure, and promote the development of the self-employment sector. Payments of certain government-levied charges and deposits will be temporarily deferred to further...