(a) Benefits other than protected rights
Uncrystallised and Unsecured Pension Funds
Death benefits will normally be paid as a lump sum but may be applied to provide pension benefits for a spouse, civil partner or dependant, either under income withdrawal or by annuity purchase. Death benefits are payable at the discretion of A J Bell Management Limited, as the Scheme Administrator, of your SIPP. You may nominate the individuals you wish to receive benefits and your wishes will be taken into account. You may complete a new nomination at any time.
Lump sums paid on death are normally free of any inheritance tax but we cannot guarantee that this will be the case. Any lump sum death benefit paid from an unsecured pension fund will be subject to a tax deduction of 35% (2008/09).
Alternatively Secured Pension (ASP)
If your pension is being paid under alternatively secured pension then the full value of your alternatively secured pension fund will be applied to provide pension benefits for your surviving spouse or dependants, either in the form of income withdrawal, or through the purchase of an annuity.
If you do not leave a surviving spouse, civil partner or dependant, then the value of your fund may be paid to a charity nominated by you for this purpose. You can complete a nomination to indicate which charity you wish to receive benefits.
Any funds paid to a charity, or paid out in pension benefits to your spouse, or dependants, will be exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT).
If on your death you have no dependants and have not nominated a charity to receive any remaining fund, it may be possible to pay a lump sum to your family or other beneficiaries but this payment will result in very significant tax charges, including IHT being charged to the fund and the recipient.
If you are considering ASP, you should consult a suitably qualified financial adviser for more information on the benefits that can be paid on your death and the tax charges payable.
(b) Protected rights death benefits - uncrystallised, USP and ASP funds
Where you are survived by a spouse or civil partner the protected rights must be used to provide a pension for your spouse or civil partner, either by the purchase of an annuity or through USP or ASP.
If you are not survived by a spouse or civil partner the protected rights will be used to provide lump sum benefits to beneficiaries nominated by you or, in the absence of any nomination, to your estate. The Scheme Administrator does not hold any discretion over who will receive lump sum death benefits from protected rights so it is important that you update your nomination whenever your circumstances change.
Lump sum payments made from protected rights which are uncrystallised or in USP may be subject to Inheritance Tax (IHT) although you can take steps, such as making your nomination irrevocable, which may reduce the tax liability. Before considering this you should seek specialist IHT advice. If you wish to make your nomination irrevocable please contact us and we will send you the appropriate documents.
Lump sum payments made from unsecured pension funds will be subject to the deduction of a 35% tax charge (2008/09) before payment.
You can make a lump sum payment to a registered charity from protected rights in ASP and this will be exempt from IHT. Any other lump sum payment may be subject to IHT and will also be treated as an unauthorised payment and will be subject to very significant tax charges.
(c) Lifetime Annuity - protected rights and non-protected rights
The benefits payable, if any, will be determined by the terms of the annuity contract.
For protected rights, if you have a spouse or civil partner at the date the annuity is purchased, the annuity must provide a spouse's or civil partner's pension in the event of your death.