Five ways Rachel Reeves could launch a tax attack on pensioners

Telegraph

28-03-2025

Rob White is a Money writer covering pensions, tax and savings. This week he revealed 700,000 more retirees could be forced to pay income tax from next year. Find advice, analysis and the latest pension news here
By the time Rachel Reeves finished her Spring Statement, the ominous sound of a till drawer opening was ringing around Westminster. Just 21 weeks after her £40bn tax-grabbing maiden Budget, the Chancellor laid the groundwork for something even more brutal next time.
During Labour's tenure, few have been safe from the Treasury's claws. Farmers, businesses and families have particularly felt the pinch. After keeping to its 'no tax rises for working people' promise in name only, the Government has also raised capital gains tax, moved pensions into inheritance tax and maintained a deep freeze on income tax thresholds.
Yet there is one group that could be even more vulnerable when Ms Reeves picks up the red briefcase next autumn – pensioners.
In the wake of her Spring Statement this week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that pensioners and the wealthy risked becoming the prime targets of another tax raid in the autumn because the Chancellor had left herself dangerously exposed to minor forecast changes. Here, Telegraph Money details how Ms Reeves could launch a new tax attack on pensioners.
1. National Insurance cash grab
Currently, people stop paying National Insurance contributions when they reach state pension age, even if they're still working.
However, employers still have to make contributions on their behalf – and Ms Reeves increased the rate to 15pc in her autumn Budget.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), one in 10 people over state pension age are still in work and as the only group permanently immune from National Insurance contributions, they could be next in the Chancellor's crosshairs.
James Jones-Tinsley, of professional services consultancy Barnett Waddingham, said: 'Deciding which, if any, pensioners should pay National Insurance will be a contentious issue, as well as highly unpopular.
'But a new government in the early stage of its tenure is best placed to make unpopular decisions – think of the winter fuel allowance.'
One way to mitigate the impact of such a change would be using salary sacrifice, which our guide explains in-depth.
2. Hitting grieving families with capital gains tax
The unpopular capital gains tax is charged on the increase in an asset's value when it's sold. Primary homes are exempt, but it's levied on anything from stocks and shares to second homes and jewellery. In the Budget, Ms Reeves raised the higher and lower rates to 18pc and 24pc respectively.
When someone dies however, the increase in value between when they bought an asset and when it's passed on to their beneficiaries is not subject to the charge. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has called for this 'forgiveness' to be removed and it is something the Chancellor could consider.
Charlene Young, of investment platform AJ Bell, said: 'This [rule] prevents double taxation in the form of both capital gains tax and inheritance tax when someone dies, but it does encourage people to sit on gains during their lifetime and avoid making lifetime gifts of assets.
'Capital gains tax being wiped out on death also creates an incentive in some cases to hold on to assets so they are taxed as part of the estate under inheritance, potentially paying less or no tax.
'But if the Government scrapped this tax break, there would likely need to be some allowance made to account for inflation. Otherwise, people who have owned investments for a very long time would be severely punished.'
There are ways to invest and avoid being stung by capital gains tax.
3. A savings hit-and-run
Cash Isas are currently free of income tax and capital gains tax, providing a safe haven for savers to put up to £20,000 a year and watch it grow.
Some argue that they provide no benefit to the state and should be scrapped, but they are popular amongst retirees. More than six million over-65s have one, according to investment platform AJ Bell.
The Chancellor avoided any changes to them in her Spring Statement, but official documents published afterwards revealed that the Government is considering a move. This could include lowering the amount that people can contribute each year in a bid to encourage them to invest in stocks and shares Isas, which would provide a handy boost for a government intent on pursuing growth.
Rob Morgan, of Charles Stanley, added: 'Documents accompanying the Spring Statement confirmed the Chancellor is considering making changes to Isas to encourage more people to invest rather than save. This is well intentioned in terms of directing more interest and injecting more capital into the UK stock market, which is badly needed.
'However, it's also important those with shorter-term objectives or who cannot tolerate any risk are not penalised, especially if they lack financial resilience. Tightening cash Isa rules could inhibit people's ability to build a tax-free rainy-day pot and would particularly affect pensioners who have no capacity to take risk, for instance because they need money for healthcare.'
Andrew Tully, of Nucleus Financial, added: 'If the Government reduced the cash Isa limit as has been rumoured to £4,000, for example, then it hopes that will mean people will invest more in stocks & shares Isas.
'While some will, others will want to continue using a cash-based product such as a bank savings account or a fixed-rate bond. In both cases interest on these will be taxable, unlike a cash Isa which is entirely tax-free.'
Read our guide on the small Isa change that could net you six figures.
4. The state pension 'retirement tax'
Labour's decision to keep tax thresholds frozen until 2028 – without introducing a get-out for retirees – will mean the state pension becomes taxable in two years' time.
Thanks to the triple lock, it will rise by 4.1pc next month before jumping another 4.6pc next April, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. This will take the benefit to within £46 of the tax-free allowance next year, which it would then be guaranteed to exceed in 2027.
This would mean everyone on the new full state pension paid tax on it.
Before the election, the Conservatives pledged to introduce a 'triple lock plus' that would increase the allowance for older people, but the policy was not adopted by Labour.
Jon Greer, of Quilter, said: 'The Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecasts confirm we are fast approaching a bizarre tax cliff-edge for pensioners. With the state pension forecast to rise by 4.6pc in April 2026 under the triple lock, it will land just below the frozen personal allowance.
'That leaves the UK potentially only one year away from pensioners having to effectively hand a portion of their state pension back to the Exchequer in tax, which to many would seem perverse.'
It comes as another 700,000 pensioners are already being dragged into paying income tax, with the total figure expected to hit 9.2 million by next year.
Our guide explains how to pay less tax on your pension.
5. Another inheritance tax raid on pensions
During her autumn Budget, Ms Reeves made the announcement that pensions would become part of someone's estate – and liable for inheritance tax – from 2027.
Experts slammed the move as a 'bear trap' and warned that grieving families could lose up to 90pc of a loved one's pension after taxes were deducted.
Some people are incurring five-figure tax charges to avoid the death duty, while others have resorted to giving their pensions away.
However, the policy's finer details have yet to be announced and some experts believe there could be yet more stings in the tail.
Mr Tully added: 'They could make sure death in service payments, where an employer pays say four times your salary to a beneficiary if you die while working for them, is included in inheritance tax considerations. Currently that is unclear, and to be decided.
'Many public sector employers, like teachers and nurses etc, receive these types of benefits and this could hurt their beneficiaries financially. For someone earning £50,000 a year, this change could cost their families £80,000 if it didn't go to their spouse.'
Mr Morgan said: 'The Chancellor could choose to clamp down on gifting rules as the older generation gives more of their money away in response to the greater restrictions around business assets and pensions.
'Greater restrictions on lifetime gifting could close off avenues for people to mitigate the crackdown on the planned curtailment of agricultural and business reliefs and the inclusion of pension pots in inheritance tax calculations.'