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- Pension drawdown – officially called flexi-access drawdown – lets you choose how to invest your pot in retirement
- You decide what income you take and when
- Advantages of pension drawdown include flexibility and the potential for continued investment growth
- Risks include the depletion of funds if withdrawals are too high or investments perform poorly
- What you withdraw from your drawdown pension is subject to income tax
How does pension drawdown work?
You can access your Self-invested personal pension (SIPP) from age 55, rising to age 57 in April 2028.
Up to 25% can usually be taken as tax-free cash, subject to the lump sum allowance, and the rest is used to provide you with a taxable income. Pension drawdown is a flexible option that lets you keep the rest of your SIPP invested, ready to pay you an income to suit you. You might also see it called ‘flexi-access drawdown’.
The pension drawdown rules let you can take as much or as little income as you want – it’s completely up to you. You can take a regular amount, or one-off payments. Funds left in your drawdown SIPP can also be passed down to your loved ones when you die.
The value of your SIPP can rise and fall in value, meaning you could get back less than you paid in. If you take too much income or your investments don’t perform as expected, then you could run out of funds to support yourself later in life. Read more about how long your pension might last.
How are drawdown pensions performing?
Most people who choose an income option for their pension choose drawdown. But the returns you receive will depend on the mix of investments you choose, how they perform, and the pattern of income withdrawals you choose to make.
As pension drawdown income is taxable, taking large withdrawals might push you into a higher tax band and leave you with less money after tax than you might have expected.
Tax on pension drawdown
Income you take from your pension drawdown is subject to income tax when you receive it.
Pension drawdown rules mean your pension provider must deduct tax from the income they pay you. You’ll usually receive a payslip from your pension provider showing the tax codes used, and the amount of tax deducted with each payment.
If you withdraw too much income, you may find you’ve been pushed into a higher income bracket and end up paying tax at higher rates. Keep in mind that Scottish taxpayers have different tax rates and bands to the rest of the UK.
When you receive your first pension drawdown payment, it’s likely that an emergency tax code will be used, unless you have a valid P45. Please note that if we use your P45 to update your tax code, the first payment will still be taxed on a Month 1 (non-cumulative) basis, in line with HMRC rules. This could mean that you overpay tax, and will have to claim it back from HMRC directly.
Read more about retirement and tax
Investing in pension drawdown
When you go into pension drawdown, you’ll need to decide on an investment strategy and continue to manage your funds. If you're choosing your own investments, AJ Bell’s investment ideas could help.
You’ll also be offered the option of Investment Pathways. These pathways match four common goals people have when entering drawdown. Each has a different AJ Bell fund, managed by our in-house experts.
Learn more about Investment Pathways
Is drawdown right for you?
Drawdown brings great flexibility, but there are also risks you need to consider. If a guaranteed income is important to you, it may not be the right option. We’ve summarised the features of pension drawdown below.
Benefits of drawdown | Risks of drawdown |
|---|---|
Pension fund remains invested Your SIPP remains invested, giving it a chance to keep growing in value. | Investment risk Your SIPP investments may not do as well as expected and the value of your pension could fall – meaning you get back less than you invested. |
You're in control You decide what investments you hold, and can manage your portfolio to suit your objectives and needs. | Taking too much income If you take too much income too quickly, or your investments don’t perform as expected, you could run out of money to support yourself later in life. |
Flexibility over payments You choose how much income you want, and when and how frequently you take it. Withdrawals can be paid regularly, as lump sums, or you can choose to take no income at all. | Need to review and manage You’ll need to be able to manage and regularly review your investment strategy so it meets your income needs. |
Choices You don’t have to move all your pension pot into drawdown at once. You could move smaller parts into it gradually, giving you up to 25% tax free each time. And you can use your drawdown money (or any pension funds you’ve yet to access) to buy an annuity in the future. | Emergency tax and potential overpayment If the income you take puts you into the next tax bracket, you may end up paying more tax than intended. Also, your first regular or one-off income payments are likely to be taxed on an emergency ‘Month 1’ basis – meaning you’ll have to reclaim tax back from HMRC directly. |
Pension fund passed on in death Your fund will be available for your beneficiaries when you die. From 6 April 2027, unused pensions are included in the value of your estate. If you die before age 75, they’ll usually be able to access it tax-free. If you die age 75 or over, your beneficiary(s) will pay income tax as and when they access the money. Read more about what happens to your pension when you die. | Future pension contributions reduced Taking drawdown income triggers the money purchase annual allowance (MPAA). This will limit the tax benefits of any contributions to your SIPP and any other ‘money purchase’ pensions to £10,000 per year. |
Keep in mind that accessing your pension is an irreversible decision. Once we’ve paid your tax-free lump sum before moving your SIPP into drawdown, you can’t change your mind.
Get ready for retirement with AJ Bell
Planning for your retirement is a crucial step. With AJ Bell, you can also transfer in existing drawdown pensions – making it easier to manage your retirement savings in one place.
Can I pay into a pension after entering drawdown?
When you start to take a flexible income from a drawdown SIPP, you’ll trigger the money purchase annual allowance (MPAA) of £10,000.
This is the amount that can be paid into your SIPP and other ‘money purchase’ pensions before a tax charge applies.
The reduction isn’t triggered until you take an income payment, so you won’t trigger it if you’ve taken a tax-free lump sum (PCLS) but no SIPP drawdown income yet.
Capped drawdown
Before April 2015, the main SIPP drawdown option was called capped drawdown. This option came with a maximum level of income you could take from your pension each year – the GAD (Government Actuary’s Department) limit. The maximum was reviewed every three years until age 75 and annually after that.
You can only be in capped drawdown if you put funds into drawdown on or before 5 April 2015.
If you’re still using capped drawdown, you have two options:
- Stay in capped drawdown
- Move to flexi-access drawdown
| Benefits of switching | Drawbacks of switching |
|---|---|
|
|
You can’t reverse the switch, so you’ll need to consider your options carefully.
If you choose to stay in capped drawdown, you’ll keep your review dates and maximum income limits.
Guidance from Pension Wise
Pension Wise is a free, impartial government service that offers guidance to over 50s.
If you want to better understand the retirement options available to you, Pension Wise can help.
Pension drawdown FAQs
How does pension drawdown work?
Pension drawdown lets you take income from your pension pot while keeping the rest of your funds invested. Any income you take will be subject to income tax at your marginal rate. You can typically take up to 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum, with the remaining 75% available to give you a taxable income.
What are the pension drawdown tax rules?
Your provider must tax pension drawdown income using the PAYE system and a tax code from HMRC. The tax code applied to your payments will determine how much tax is deducted, with Scottish taxpayers subject to different bands and allowance to the rest of the UK. Read more about pension withdrawals and tax.
What happens to your pension fund when you die?
When you die, the remaining funds in your pension can be passed on to your beneficiaries. Pensions aren’t covered by your will, so it’s important to keep your nominations up to date with each pension provider.
From 6 April 2027, unused pensions and death benefits will be included in the value of estates for inheritance tax. Anything left to a spouse or civil partner will continue to be exempt, but depending on your age when you die, your beneficiaries might need to pay income tax when they withdraw funds they’ve inherited from you.
If you die before age 75, the funds can usually be paid to your beneficiaries free of income tax. If you die after 75, the funds will be subject to income tax at the beneficiary's marginal rate. The specific process and tax implications will depend on the type of pension arrangement and the options chosen by your beneficiaries.
Read more about what happens to your pension when you die.
Should I choose pension drawdown or an annuity?
Choosing between pension drawdown and an annuity depends on your individual circumstances and preferences.
Pension drawdown offers flexibility in accessing your pension funds and managing investments, but the income you can take depends on how your investments perform and how long you live.
An annuity provides a guaranteed income for life, offering stability and predictability, but typically lacks flexibility.
Consider your financial needs, desire for income security and whether you want to manage your investments when making your decision.
Find out more about the differences between annuities and drawdown.
How can you put your pension into drawdown?
To put your AJ Bell pension into drawdown, log in to your account, go to Manage my Pension, and select the option to access your pot. You can take up to 25% of your pot tax-free, and move the remaining 75% into a drawdown fund. You can access your SIPP in stages, rather than all at once.
What is flexi-access drawdown?
Flexi-access drawdown is a way of accessing your pension savings. You can take up to 25% of what you access as a tax-free lump sum (PCLS), and the remaining funds stay invested. You can then withdraw money from the remaining funds as and when you need it, with the withdrawals subject to income tax. This method offers flexibility in how you manage your retirement income. Read more about flexi-access drawdown.
Get your money working for you
Options at retirement
Whether you’re nearing retirement or already there, we’re here to help you enjoy your golden years.
Learn more about retirement
How to make your pension last as long as you do – from getting your retirement pot ready, to when and how you can access it.
Investment pathways in retirement
Make managing your pension pot easier in drawdown.
Important information: Remember that the value of investments can change, and you could lose money as well as make it. We don't offer advice, so it's important you understand the risks. If you're not sure, please speak to a financial adviser. These articles are for information purposes only and are not a personal recommendation or advice. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and rules may change. Pension rules apply.