Tailored retirement tax planning advice. Maximize savings with ACG.
Retirement Tax Planning – Secure Your Financial Freedom
Retirement should be the time you enjoy the life you worked hard to build — not the time you worry about tax. At Audit Consulting Group, we specialise in retirement tax planning for individuals, couples, and business owners who want to make the most of their money as they approach or enter retirement.
Whether you’re 5 years away, newly retired, or restructuring your finances post-retirement, our expert tax advice helps reduce liabilities, increase income, and protect your legacy.
This is retirement tax planning advice — simplified, personalised, and powerful.
What Is Retirement Tax Planning?
Retirement tax planning is the strategic structuring of your income, savings, and assets to minimise tax during your retirement years and beyond. It’s about keeping more of your wealth — legally and efficiently — while ensuring stability, flexibility, and peace of mind.
We help you answer questions like:
- How do I draw my pension tax-efficiently?
- Should I use my ISA before my pension?
- What taxes apply to my investments?
- When should I start taking income?
- What happens if I die unexpectedly — will my family lose a big chunk to taxes?
Our goal is to reduce your tax exposure at every step of your retirement journey.
Why Is Retirement Tax Planning Important in the UK?
Retirement doesn’t mean tax-free living. The UK tax system can penalise those who don’t plan:
- Income Tax on pension withdrawals
- Tax on investment income
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on asset sales
- Inheritance Tax (IHT) on your estate
- Loss of allowances if income thresholds are crossed
- Tax on state pensions and private pensions
- Tax on lump sum withdrawals
Without proper retirement tax planning advice, you may unknowingly overpay taxes by tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Who Needs Retirement Tax Planning Advice?
You do — if any of these apply:
- You are approaching retirement (within 5–10 years)
- You’ve already retired and are drawing pension or savings
- You own rental properties or other investments
- You’re a business owner planning an exit
- You have more than £250,000 in pensions or savings
- You want to leave a tax-efficient legacy to your family
- You don’t fully understand how tax works after retirement
Whether you’re employed, self-employed, or a company director, proper planning ensures you retain more of your money.
Our Retirement Tax Planning Services
We provide a full range of retirement-focused tax strategies:
- Tax-efficient pension drawdown strategies
- Use of Personal Allowance, Dividend Allowance, CGT Allowance
- Strategic ISA and pension balance management
- State pension timing and tax optimisation
- Lifetime Allowance planning (if applicable)
- Investment income structuring
- Use of General Investment Accounts (GIAs) and ISAs
- Withdrawal sequencing strategies (ISA vs pension vs GIA)
- Tax-efficient property income structuring
- Business exit and entrepreneur relief strategies
- Trusts and gifting to reduce IHT
- IHT-efficient estate structuring for retirees
- Use of life assurance policies in trust
- Coordination with financial advisers, lawyers, and family members
Every client receives a custom tax strategy — built around their goals, risk profile, income needs, and family structure.
How Retirement Taxes Work in the UK
Even in retirement, tax doesn’t stop:
- Pension withdrawals (beyond 25% tax-free lump sum) are taxed as income
- State pensions are fully taxable
- Investment income and capital gains may trigger additional tax
- Higher income may result in loss of personal allowance
- Exceeding £100,000 income triggers 60% effective tax band
- Inheritance Tax applies to estates over £325,000
But… each of these taxes can be legally reduced or avoided with smart retirement tax planning.
Common Mistakes in Retirement Tax Planning
- Withdrawing too much from pensions in a single year
- Leaving pensions until last — when they could be the most tax-efficient to leave untouched
- Not using ISA allowances effectively
- Ignoring CGT planning on investments
- Failing to prepare for IHT
- Overlooking partner’s allowances and income tax bands
- Not reviewing strategy annually
- Assuming state pension is tax-free
- Not coordinating with estate planning
What Makes Audit Consulting Group Different?
- 10+ years of UK retirement tax experience
- Specialists in personal tax, IHT, pensions, and investment income
- Clear, jargon-free explanations
- We coordinate with IFAs, solicitors, and wealth managers
- Trusted by high net worth individuals and family offices
- Discreet, compassionate, and client-first
- Transparent fixed fees or retainer options
Our job is to help you pay less tax — legally, ethically, and strategically.
Our Process – Retirement Tax Planning Advice You Can Rely On
- Initial Free Consultation
We learn about your retirement goals, assets, and current income. - Tax Health Check & Forecast
Review your current tax exposure and project future liabilities. - Bespoke Tax Plan Development
Create a personalised retirement tax strategy — reviewed by senior tax consultants. - Implementation Support
We help you put the plan into action, coordinate with advisers, and stay compliant. - Annual Review
Your circumstances, tax law, and markets change — we adapt with you.
Real Retirement Planning Case Studies
Case 1: Couple Retiring at 60 – £1.1M in pensions and savings
We helped them withdraw from ISAs first, then gradually draw pensions to stay within basic rate tax band. IHT exposure mitigated with gifts and trusts. Result: over £110k saved in tax over 10 years.
Case 2: Business Owner Exiting at 55 – £2M+ Sale
We advised on entrepreneur relief (now Business Asset Disposal Relief), managed pension contributions before exit, and structured proceeds into tax-efficient investments. Estate structured to minimise IHT.
Case 3: Retired Teacher With Property Portfolio
Helped reallocate income to spouse, shift to limited company ownership for rental properties, and stagger capital gains. Income optimised and IHT plan initiated for grandchildren.
Case 4: Widow Aged 75 with £800k estate
We restructured assets to use her full nil-rate band, created a charitable legacy, and used trusts to protect her home. Family saved £120,000 in IHT.
Smart Tools in Retirement Tax Planning
- ISAs – Tax-free growth and withdrawals
- Pensions – Tax-free lump sum + inheritance options
- GIAs – Flexible investment wrappers, but with CGT exposure
- Personal Allowance – Use it every year, or lose it
- Dividend/CGT Allowance – Strategically harvest gains and income
- Trusts – Protect family wealth and reduce IHT
- Spousal Transfers – Maximise both partners’ tax bands
- Pension Death Benefits – Leave tax-free pension assets
- Inheritance Gifting – Start planning IHT well before age 75
- Life Insurance in Trust – Fund any future IHT bills
- Family Investment Companies (FICs) – Pass growth, not wealth
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax will I pay in retirement?
It depends on your income source, structure, and drawdown strategy. Many retirees unknowingly pay 40–60% effective tax on poorly timed withdrawals. We help reduce that.
Should I draw my pension early?
Not always. It depends on your needs, health, other assets, and IHT goals. Sometimes deferring pensions increases lifetime tax efficiency — we’ll advise what’s right for you.
Can you help me avoid inheritance tax?
Yes. We build IHT strategies into your retirement tax plan. That includes gifting, trusts, life policies, and asset restructuring.
I’m already retired — is it too late to plan?
Not at all. There’s still a lot you can do — optimise income, reduce annual taxes, and protect assets. Even small changes can have big long-term benefits.
Can I include my spouse or partner in the plan?
Absolutely. Retirement tax planning works best when done as a couple — to use all allowances, thresholds, and exemptions.
Do I need a financial adviser as well?
We don’t sell products, but we work closely with IFAs. We provide the tax strategy — your adviser can execute the investment plan based on our recommendations.
How often should I review my plan?
We recommend at least once a year — or when major changes occur (new law, asset sale, health event, etc.).
Client Testimonials
“Audit Consulting Group transformed the way I thought about retirement. I now draw tax-efficient income and know my family is protected.”
– Steven H., Guildford
“Their retirement tax advice helped me save over £80k in unnecessary tax — and I only wish I’d found them sooner.”
– Diane R., Cambridge
“Smart, clear, and patient. They handled my entire financial picture — pensions, property, wills, and all. I feel totally in control now.”
– Alan K., Bristol
The Retirement You Deserve Starts With Smart Tax Planning
You worked your whole life for financial independence. Now it’s time to enjoy it — without giving too much away to HMRC.
At Audit Consulting Group, we guide you every step of the way with expert, trustworthy retirement tax planning advice.
We help you:
- Reduce your tax bill
- Maximise income flexibility
- Protect your wealth
- Leave a tax-efficient legacy
The earlier you start, the more options you have — but it’s never too late.
📞 Book Your Free Retirement Tax Planning Consultation
📧 Request Your Custom Retirement Tax Report
📍 Serving Retirees Across the UK | Trusted | Independent | Experienced
Audit Consulting Group – Retirement Tax Advice for Real Peace of Mind
