RE: Pension or SaS ISA30 May 2026 09:57
As a higher rate pay payer, a SIPP will be massively more tax efficient than merely paying in to a SIPP, especially if you can salary sac, and even more so if employers contribute all or some of their NI saving. Even with the salary sac tax rules changing in 2029. If you're expecting to be a higher rate payer at retirement (lucky you) then the advantages disappear (other than potential NI savings), but thats when careful tax planning works, eg contribute as much as possible to partners pension once yours is on track. Make the most of employer contributions, salary sac as much as possible.
That £20k net you stick in to an Isa has cost you £8400 at 40% tax and 2% ni. That's gone, lost forever, to be spent on the unemployed bad back and slightly anxious in benefits. If you earn £100k, that's £68k take home, so after isa contribution you have £48k leftover to spend on whisky and warhammer.
Salary sac that £20k in to a pension however, and your take home pay at £80k is now £56k. So youre £8000 better off a year, which you could stick in an Isa too to tide you over until 57/59, or contribute to partners pension and get tax relief. Even if a SIPP, you only lose out on the 2% ni saving as a higher rate payer. If you can withdraw from your pension at basic rate, then you'll have made a small fortune over an Isa (and I imagine a future labour, green and lib dem coalition will love to apply a one off 20% charge to your Isa or limit to £250k limit.)