Usually, you do not need this pension tax relief reclaim for salary-sacrifice contributions. You give up salary and your employer pays into the pension. The Income Tax saving is reflected in lower taxable salary, so claiming those employer payments again as personal relief-at-source contributions would be incorrect.
Check the arrangement, not just the pension provider
A NEST, Aviva or other provider name does not establish how the contribution was made. Look for salary sacrifice or salary exchange in your employment agreement and payroll records. Ask payroll to explain any unclear deduction.
- Salary sacrifice: salary is reduced and the employer contributes.
- Net pay: your personal contribution is taken before Income Tax is calculated.
- Relief at source: you make a personal payment and the provider adds basic-rate relief.
The first two normally already give the relevant relief through payroll. Only the third is the starting point for the additional relief this site helps prepare.
Could another pension still qualify?
Yes. You may have a separate SIPP or personal pension funded from your bank account, or a previous job that used relief at source. Check those personal contributions independently. Do not include the salary-sacrifice amount when estimating a claim on them.
What if the payslip seems wrong?
Ask payroll to reconcile the salary, taxable pay and pension contributions first. A payroll correction is different from buying a pack for extra relief-at-source tax relief. Do not pay for our claim pack if your only contributions were made through salary sacrifice or net pay.
Looking at earlier jobs?
If an earlier job used relief at source and you paid tax above the basic rate, check whether extra relief was already claimed. The current completed-year window is 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025/26; the oldest year closes on 5 April 2027.
Sources and next step
Check HMRC's pension tax relief guidance and HMRC's claim service and evidence requirements.
Check your eligibility and estimate with our free calculator. No email is required. You can claim directly from HMRC for free. If you want help preparing the paperwork, our optional £99 pack includes a personalised letter, year-by-year calculation and evidence checklist. You provide your records, then sign and submit the pack yourself. HMRC decides the final relief.
Check whether you have extra relief to claim
Get a free estimate first. You can claim directly from HMRC for free. If you want help preparing the paperwork, our £99 pack includes your personalised letter, year-by-year calculation and evidence checklist. You complete your details, then sign and submit it yourself.
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