The over-55s have been liberated to make withdrawals from their pension pots however want to make use of their freedoms correctly or threat getting hit with a shock tax invoice from HM Revenue & Customs.

While the primary 25 p.c could be taken tax free, the remaining 75 p.c of cash withdrawn could also be topic to earnings tax.

Savers who can’t wait to get their arms on their pension and withdraw their total pot in a single go threat being pushed into the next tax bracket for that yr, and handing over a probably large sum to HMRC.

Dean Butler, managing director for buyer at Standard Life, mentioned pensions are a extremely tax-efficient technique to save so don’t throw cash away proper on the finish.

“How much tax you pay on withdrawals depends on how and when you take the money, and there are several different ways to reduce your exposure.”

Since 2015, savers can usually entry their pension from age 55, which is about to rise to 57 from April 2028 to maintain up with state pension age will increase.

After taking the tax-free money, additional pension withdrawals are added to all of your different earnings sources for the yr. This consists of any state pension, work earnings, cash taken from different financial savings, investments or annuities, and even sure state advantages.

It all must be rigorously added up.

The full new state pension of £10,600 this yr is under the £12,570 private allowance, however even comparatively small pension withdrawals on prime might push individuals over, with the tax deducted from office or private pension withdrawals fairly than the state pension itself.

If a pension withdrawal pushes an over-55's earnings above the private allowance, it might be topic to primary charge earnings tax at 20 p.c, minus the tax-free money ingredient.

Those who money in massive pots in a single go might find yourself paying increased charge tax, which might see a number of the cash taxed at 40 p.c and even 45 p.c.

In some circumstances, this could possibly be the one yr of their life they fall into the next tax bracket, inflicting large remorse. Especially if in future years they're nowhere close to paying higher-rate tax.

Butler mentioned many pension savers do not realise the hazard as they race to money in pension and rather a lot is at stake as that cash has taken an entire working lifetime to construct. If in danger, it may be higher to make smaller, common withdrawals over quite a lot of years.

Staggering pension withdrawals might save quite a lot of tax, and makes specific sense to somebody who has an honest degree of earnings from different sources, together with a well-paid job.

Over-55s who must generate massive sums now, say, to clear a mortgage or different money owed, might first withdraw any financial savings or investments they maintain in a money Isa or shares and shares Isa, as all withdrawals are fully freed from earnings tax.

The over-55s needs to be cautious of withdrawing an excessive amount of cash to quickly, as they may run out of retirement savings in later life.

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Growing numbers favor to go away their cash invested inside a pension, as this may be handed on to family members freed from inheritance tax on demise, which is one thing else to contemplate.

Beneficiaries can inherit your unused pension pot fully freed from tax in the event you die earlier than age 75, thereafter they may pay earnings tax on the cash.

Another hazard with taking a pension lump sum is that you would be overtaxed below an emergency code, mentioned Tom Selby, head of retirement coverage at AJ Bell. 

HMRC treats a one-off withdrawal as if you're going to keep on taking that sum each month for the remainder of the tax yr, he mentioned. "Many do not realise the hazard till they obtain a sudden tax invoice.”

You can get a rebate in 30 days by filling out one among three HMRC types, or look forward to HMRC to place issues proper on the finish of the tax yr, Selby added.

Canada Life technical director Andrew Tully advised that somebody making their first pension withdrawal ought to begin by taking a small sum of, say, £100. “That will generate a tax code from HMRC which will apply to any subsequent withdrawals.” 

Pension withdrawals are difficult with massive sums at stake, so take into account taking unbiased monetary recommendation or talking to free authorities steering service Pension Wise.