SIPPs Explained | SIPP Rules & FAQ (2024)

Home Services Personal pension (SIPP)

Important information - the value of investments can go down as well as up so you may not get back what you invest. Eligibility to invest in a SIPP and tax treatment depends on personal circ*mstances and all tax rules may change.You cannot normally access your pension until age 55 (57 from 2028). It’s important to understand that pension transfers are a complex area and may not be suitable for everyone.

SIPP: Guide and information

We want to make saving for retirement as simple as possible. If you’re thinking about putting your money into a self-invested personal pension (SIPP), it’s sensible to make sure it’s right for you. We’ve pulled together a list of our most popular SIPP FAQs in one place to answer your questions. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we have plenty of more information in our help and support section too.

What is a SIPP?
How many SIPPs can I have?
Can I have more than one pension?

Getting started with a Fidelity SIPP

Explore our SIPP

See more of what our SIPP has to offer and start a regular savings plan from £20 or make a lump sum payment of at least £800.

Explore our SIPP

Transfer SIPP

Get to know more about transferring your pension to our award-winning SIPP. We can help you to make your money work harder for retirement.

Transfer SIPP

Open a SIPP

Fidelity’s flexible, award-winning SIPP is a great way to save for retirement with significant tax benefits. You choose what to invest in and can contribute in lump sums or with regular savings.

Open an account

Opening a SIPP FAQs

What are the Fidelity SIPP eligibility rules?
What is the SIPP application process?
Can I open a SIPP if I plan to retire overseas?

SIPP contributions & allowance FAQs

Until what age can I contribute to my SIPP?
Who can contribute to my SIPP?
Does Fidelity accept contributions in the asset form?
What is the maximum I can pay into my SIPP?
What happens if I exceed my annual allowance?
What is the Lifetime Allowance?
What happens if I exceed the lifetime allowance?
What does carry forward mean?

Personal pension tax FAQs

Is my pension taxable?
How much tax will I pay on my pension?
How much tax will be payable if I die with money left in my SIPP?
What is pension tax relief?

Investing in a SIPP FAQs

What can our SIPP invest in?
Can I invest my personal pension in property?
How many funds should I have in my SIPP?
How secure is my pension?

Accessing your SIPP FAQs

Can I withdraw money from my private pension?
Can I just take the tax-free cash?
What happens to my SIPP when I reach 75?
What happens to my pension when I die?

SIPP transfer FAQs

Can I transfer my pension to the Fidelity SIPP?
Can I transfer my ISA into a SIPP?
Can I transfer my pension to another person?
How much are the pension transfer fees?

Combining pensions together FAQs

Can I bring my pensions together?
How do I consolidate my pensions?
How much does it cost to combine different pensions together?
How do I find a lost pension?

SIPP fees & charges FAQs

How much does the Fidelity SIPP cost?
How can I pay my fees and when?

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular product, service or course of action. Pension and retirement planning can be complex, so if you are unsure about the suitability of a pension investment, retirement service or any action you need to take, please contact Fidelity’s retirement service on 0800 084 5045 or refer to an authorised financial adviser of your choice.

Exit fees terms and conditions

In order to request exit fees re-imbursem*nt you will be required to complete an exit fees re-imbursem*nt form which you can downloadhere, or request over the phone by calling us on 0333 300 3351.

Terms and conditions for re-imbursem*nt of exit fees

Fidelity will reimburse the exit/redemption fees charged to a customer by their former provider/s when they move their investments (minimum of £1,000) to Fidelity, up to a maximum amount of £500 per customer.

An exit fee is an administration charge which is imposed by the former provider and arises directly as a result of processing the transfer or re-registration of the customer’s investments to Fidelity. Fidelity will not reimburse the customer for any loss of investment returns, loss of interest, dealing charges, penalties for transferring investments before their maturity dates or any other charges associated with your transfer or re-registration.

Where a re-registration or transfer is not possible and the customer chooses to sell their investments held through another provider and subsequently make new investment/s (minimum £10,000) through Fidelity, Fidelity will cover any account closure fees charged by the customer’s former provider (excluding any dealing charges) of up to £500 per customer. Fidelity will not cover any bid-offer spreads or any capital gains tax liability arising as a result of these transactions.

Exit and account closure fees reimbursem*nt must be claimed within a 6 month period from date of transfer of the customer’s investments to Fidelity. Exit fees will be reimbursed for transfers and re-registrations and account closure fees will be reimbursed provided the conditions above are met. Products included: ISAs, PEPs, Unit Trusts, OEICs, SICAVs, Fidelity Personal Pension, EBS SIPP and the Fidelity SIPP. Products excluded: ShareNetwork.

To qualify for the reimbursem*nt, the fees from the customer’s former provider must have been triggered as a direct result of the transfer or re-registration to Fidelity, or the closure of an account where the customer has subsequently (within 6 months) invested at least £10,000 through Fidelity. If the customer is transferring investments to more than one provider from their former provider at the same time, Fidelity will only reimburse the fees which are incurred as a result of direct transfer or re-registration to Fidelity. Other fees or charges unconnected with the transfer will not be reimbursed.

The completed Exit Fee Reimbursem*nt Form and documentary evidence of the charge will need to be provided in order for the exit fees to be reimbursed to the customer. To claim the reimbursem*nt of any account closure fees, documentary evidence of the closure fee levied will need to be provided to Fidelity, along with confirmation that a minimum of £10,000 has been invested with Fidelity within 6 months of incurring such closure fee.

The documentary evidence referred to above, must be either a copy of the charge confirmation letter from the former provider or a statement showing the charge being deducted.

Payment will be made to the customer by BACS when a bank mandate is held on the account. Alternatively, payment will be made by cheque.

Changes to Fidelity’s service fee

ISA, SIPP and Investment Accounts

  • On or around 1 September, we will start collecting the service fee on your accounts on the 1st of every month (currently the 15th).
  • In September we will automatically open a Cash Management Account for you (if you do not already have one) and we will collect service fees from that account from 1 October onwards. This excludes joint Investment Accounts.
  • If there is insufficient cash held in the Cash Management Account, the outstanding fee balance will be taken from the relevant accounts in the same way as it is today.
  • The Cash Management Account also gives you the ability to hold cash outside of your other accounts, and to freely move cash around from one account to another (depending on individual account restrictions and allowances).

We'll be in touch with all of our customers to inform you of these changes formally, or to find out more now, you can read our Doing Business With Fidelity document.

Exit fees terms and conditions

In order to request exit fees re-imbursem*nt you will be required to complete an exit fees re-imbursem*nt form which you can download by clicking here, or request over the phone by calling us on 0333 300 3351.

Terms and conditions for re-imbursem*nt of exit fees

This offer does not apply to any investments linked to an Adviser / Intermediary or third party.

Fidelity will reimburse the exit/redemption fees charged to a customer by their former provider/s when they move their investments (minimum of £100) to Fidelity Personal Investing, up to a maximum amount of £500 per customer.

An exit fee is an administration charge which is imposed by the former provider and arises directly as a result of processing the transfer or re-registration of the customer’s investments to Fidelity. Fidelity will not reimburse the customer for any loss of investment returns, loss of interest, dealing charges, penalties for transferring investments before their maturity dates or any other charges associated with your transfer or re-registration.

Where a re-registration or transfer is not possible and the customer chooses to sell their investments held through another provider and subsequently make new investment/s (minimum £10,000) through Fidelity Personal Investing, Fidelity will cover any account closure fees charged by the customer’s former provider (excluding any dealing charges) of up to £500 per customer. Fidelity will not cover any bid-offer spreads or any capital gains tax liability arising as a result of these transactions.

Exit and account closure fees reimbursem*nt must be claimed within a 6 month period from date of transfer of the customer’s investments to Fidelity. Exit fees will be reimbursed for transfers and re-registrations and account closure fees will be reimbursed provided the conditions above are met. Products included: ISAs, Investment Accounts, EBS SIPP, Fidelity Personal Pension, Fidelity SIPP, Unit Trusts, OEICs, SICAVs, Exchange Traded Funds, Investment Trusts and Shares.

To qualify for the reimbursem*nt, the fees from the customer’s former provider must have been triggered as a direct result of the transfer or re-registration to Fidelity Personal Investing, or the closure of an account where the customer has subsequently (within 6 months) invested at least £10,000 through Fidelity Personal Investing. If the customer is transferring investments to more than one provider from their former provider at the same time, Fidelity will only reimburse the fees which are incurred as a result of direct transfer or re-registration to Fidelity. Other fees or charges unconnected with the transfer will not be reimbursed.

The completed Exit Fee Reimbursem*nt Form and documentary evidence of the charge will need to be provided in order for the exit fees to be reimbursed to the customer. To claim the reimbursem*nt of any account closure fees, documentary evidence of the closure fee levied will need to be provided to Fidelity, along with confirmation that a minimum of £10,000 has been invested with Fidelity within 6 months of incurring such closure fee.

The documentary evidence referred to above, must be either a copy of the charge confirmation letter from the former provider or a statement showing the charge being deducted.

Payment will be made to the customer by BACS when a bank mandate is held on the account. Alternatively, payment will be made by cheque.

Open SIPP

You will need:

  • Your National Insurance number
  • Debit card details (for a single payment)
  • Bank or building society details (if you’re planning on setting up a regular savings plan)
  • Your annual allowance (if you are over 55)

Existing customer

If you already have a Fidelity account, log in here to open your SIPP.

Log in and open your SIPP

New customer

If you're new to Fidelity, you can open your account here.

Open an account

Take control of your pensions by bringing them together

Trying to manage pensions across different providers can be both time-consuming and difficult. Bringing them together into Fidelity’s SIPP can help you take control and plan ahead more effectively.

Find out more

SIPPs Explained | SIPP Rules & FAQ (1)

Your Junior SIPP checklist

If you’re ready to proceed, you'll need:

  • Your National Insurance number
  • If the child is 16 or above - Junior's National Insurance number and their agreement to the tax relief declaration. The child must be present to provide their confirmation.

Once the account is open, you’ll be able to contribute by:

  • Making a single payment via debit card, bank transfer or cheque
  • If you want to set up regular contributions by direct debit or request payment from a third party, a form will be available to download at the end of the application.

Open a Junior SIPP online

SIPPs Explained | SIPP Rules & FAQ (2024)

FAQs

SIPPs Explained | SIPP Rules & FAQ? ›

A self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is a pension 'wrapper' that allows you to save, invest and build up a pot of money for when you retire. It is a type of personal pension and works in a similar way to a standard personal pension.

What are the disadvantages of a SIPP pension? ›

Cons of a SIPP
  • You'll pay tax on any lump-sum withdrawals of over 25% of your SIPP fund.
  • A lifetime limit of £1,073,100 currently applies across all your pension funds.
  • You can only access money from your SIPP when you're aged 55 or older.

What are SIPPs explained simply? ›

A self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is a pension 'wrapper' that allows you to save, invest and build up a pot of money for when you retire. It is a type of personal pension and works in a similar way to a standard personal pension.

What should I look for in a SIPP? ›

You need to look at how much the SIPP will cost you while you're putting money into it, and then how much the platform will charge you when you want to get access to your money again. There's no point having a really cheap platform for your money on the way in, which costs you the earth when you come to take it out.

What happens to a SIPP at age 75? ›

However, if you are likely to take tax-free cash after the age of 75, check whether it is permitted by your pension provider. Some older pension contracts may not allow it. Can I still pay into my pension after age 75? Your right to take tax-free cash out of your SIPP is not affected by your 75th birthday.

What are the risks of SIPPs? ›

You may have to pay a significant amount of tax if you make large withdrawals in a short period of time. If you take too much out of your pension this may erode the capital in your SIPP. If investment returns are poor and a high level of income is taken, this will result in your SIPP falling in value.

What is the main difference between a SIPP and a personal pension? ›

What is the difference between a SIPP and a personal pension? SIPPs work in very similar ways to a personal pension however they are more flexible and offer you more control over investment. This means a SIPP is a great option for those who want to self-manage their pension.

Are SIPPs inheritable? ›

Any money left in your SIPP when you die can normally be passed to your heirs free of inheritance tax. Any withdrawals they then make will usually be tax free if you died before you were 75. If you die when 75 or older, any withdrawals will be taxed as their income.

Who should use a SIPP? ›

Anyone who is a UK resident or is a Crown employee or their spouse or civil partner who is working overseas and is under 75 can open and pay into a SIPP.

What are the benefits of a SIPP pension? ›

5 reasons to pay into a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension)
  • A SIPP gives you more control over your pension pot. ...
  • With a SIPP, you get a little boost from the government. ...
  • A SIPP offers more flexible retirement options. ...
  • A SIPP could help boost your retirement income. ...
  • If you're self-employed, a SIPP could help you save more.

Can I manage a SIPP myself? ›

One of the most flexible types of pension, a SIPP lets you select and manage the investments in your pension pot yourself. You can open a SIPP alongside your existing workplace or other personal pensions – and in doing so, can open up a range of investments that may not be available to you via other schemes.

What is the interest rate on a SIPP pension? ›

SIPP interest rates
BalanceInterest Rate (Gross)/AERDate Effective
Balance £1 and aboveInterest Rate (Gross)/AER 2.65%Date Effective 23/03/2023
Balance £1 and aboveInterest Rate (Gross)/AER 2.45%Date Effective 19/01/2023
Balance £1 and aboveInterest Rate (Gross)/AER 1.30%Date Effective 07/10/2022

How many funds should you have in a SIPP? ›

There isn't a strict rule, but between five and 10 funds is usually a good idea. That lets you allocate money to different types of funds and markets without doubling up too much.

When can I withdraw my SIPP pension? ›

Withdrawing money

How do I withdraw money from my SIPP? When you reach age 55 (57 from 2028), you're free to start withdrawing money from your SIPP, even if you're still working. You can usually take up to 25% of your pot tax free (up to a maximum of £268,275). The rest of your withdrawals will be taxed as your income.

How often can you withdraw from a SIPP? ›

There are no strict withdrawal limits in place and you can take out as much money as you like each year. But, depending on how much you take out each year, there will likely be tax to pay at the marginal rate on your SIPP withdrawals as it would currently be classed as income for tax purposes.

Can you withdraw from a SIPP before retirement? ›

Unless you're aged 55 and ready to choose a retirement option, you cannot withdraw from your SIPP. Take a look at your available retirement options to see how best to take money from your pension when you're ready.

Is money in a SIPP safe? ›

The investments within a SIPP are legally 'ring-fenced' from the SIPP provider itself. That means that, even if the provider fails, the investments are safe – and also entitled to their own, separate FSCS protection. The extent of this protection depends on the type of product.

Are SIPs risk free? ›

SIPs invest in various securities, including stocks. Since stocks are highly volatile, your SIP is also not 100% risk-free. Investing at regular intervals through SIP may reduce the intensity of losing your money if the market is unfavorable.

How many SIPPs can you hold? ›

There is no limit on the number of SIPPs that you can have. However, you should keep in mind that there are annual and lifetime limits regarding how much you can save tax efficiently in your pensions.

Can I open a SIPP if I am retired? ›

You could open a personal pension like the HL Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). You can choose your own investments, track how it's doing online at any time, and make changes whenever you like. You'll also have access to all the pension freedoms, when you want to take money out.

Can I close a SIPP? ›

If you want, you can close your pension and take the full remaining amount as cash. Not every scheme will offer this option. If it does, the pension provider is likely to apply charges. Plus, if the pot is sizeable, it could push you into a higher-rate income tax bracket than if you withdrew funds more gradually.

Can I leave my SIPP to my son? ›

You can nominate whoever you like to receive your SIPP on your death. This could be your spouse, children or grandchildren, or you can nominate someone unrelated to you if you wish.

Who owns the assets in a SIPP? ›

Structure. Unlike conventional personal pensions where the provider as trustee has ownership and control of the assets, in a SIPP the member may have ownership of the assets (via an individual trust) as long as the scheme administrator is a co-trustee to exercise control.

What is the SIPP lifetime allowance? ›

What is a SIPP lifetime allowance? A SIPP lifetime allowance means you'll be hit with a hefty tax charge if your pension pot exceeds the lifetime allowance. The lifetime allowance is £1.073 million in 2021–2022 and is frozen until 2026.

What is the difference between SIPP and annuity? ›

SIPP vs annuity

Making a direct comparison between these two products is not really possible as a SIPP is about accumulation and an annuity is deccumulation. An annuity is an insurance contract that insures against you living too long.

Can I withdraw all my money from a SIPP? ›

Once you reach age 55, you can take 25% of your SIPP as a tax-free lump sum (subject to a maximum of £268,275 unless you have protection in place). Withdrawals beyond your tax-free cash will be subject to tax at your marginal rate of income tax. Find out more about your retirement income options.

Can I just hold cash in a SIPP? ›

No, you can hold all or part of your HL SIPP as cash until you choose where to invest. The HL SIPP can provide a gross rate of interest on the cash value. There are no costs for holding cash within the HL SIPP.

What happens if my SIPP provider goes bust? ›

If a SIPP provider goes bust and you aren't able to transfer your pot to another provider, you'll be able to claim compensation from Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Is a SIPP like a 401k? ›

The fundamental difference between the 401(k) pension and the self-invested personal pension (SIPP) is that the former is available in the US while the latter is for UK savers. They are, however, both effective vehicles for long-term retirement planning and tax-efficient saving.

Which is the best SIPP cash rate? ›

Interest paid on cash held in a SIPP
£0 - £10k£25k - £50k
Bestinvest*3.10%3.10%
Charles Stanley Direct1.50%1.50%
Fidelity*1.90%1.90%
Hargreaves Lansdown*1.70%1.90%
4 more rows
Feb 27, 2023

Can I take all my SIPP as a lump sum? ›

You can take lump sums whenever you need them, and each payment will have a tax free element. Remember that taking a lump sum out of your SIPP will deplete your fund, so you need to consider whether you'll have enough money leftover for the future.

What is the 4% rule for retirement funds? ›

How the 4% Rule Works. The 4% rule is easy to follow. In the first year of retirement, you can withdraw up to 4% of your portfolio's value. If you have $1 million saved for retirement, for example, you could spend $40,000 in the first year of retirement following the 4% rule.

Can I pay into 2 SIPPs? ›

How many SIPPs can I have? You can open multiple SIPPs and hold them alongside other investments such as ISAs and workplace pensions. The main reason investors open multiple SIPPs is to balance risk and access different investment types.

Can you take tax free cash from a SIPP after age 75? ›

If paid before age 75, it's tax free as long as it's within the individual's available LTA. After 75, it can only be paid from unused funds and would be subject to income tax at the member's marginal rate..

Can I withdraw everything from my pension? ›

When you reach the age of 55, you may be able to take your entire pension pot as one lump sum if you want. Whether you can do this and how you might do it will depend on the type of pension you have. But if you do, you could end up with a big tax bill, and risk running out of money in retirement.

What is an uncrystallised pension lump sum? ›

Uncrystallised funds pension lump sums (UFPLS) are a way of taking pension benefits from money purchase pensions without going into drawdown or buying a lifetime annuity. Under the UFPLS option, an individual can take their uncrystallised pension funds in one go, or as a series of lump sums.

How do I withdraw money from my pension fund? ›

Once you've reached the retirement age for your pension, you have 4 ways to access your savings:
  1. withdrawing your full pension pot.
  2. withdrawing from your pot in smaller lump sums.
  3. flexible drawdown.
  4. an annuity.

Is a SIPP pension a good idea? ›

Setting up and contributing to a SIPP can increase your pension savings and give you more income in retirement. You will need to be mindful of the annual allowance, which applies to all of your pensions if you have more than one, but the more you pay in, the more money you should have to fund your future.

What happens to SIPP after death? ›

Any money left in your SIPP when you die can normally be passed to your heirs free of inheritance tax. Any withdrawals they then make will usually be tax free if you died before you were 75. If you die when 75 or older, any withdrawals will be taxed as their income.

What is the riskiest type of pension? ›

Only defined-benefit pension plans can be at risk of underfunding because an employee, not the employer, bears the investment risk in defined-contribution plans.

Who benefits from SIPP? ›

If you're self-employed, a SIPP could help you save more

If you're self-employed, it's possible to take control of your finances for later life. Make sure you're on top of your own national insurance contributions and consider opening a SIPP.

When can I withdraw from SIPP? ›

Unless you're aged 55 and ready to choose a retirement option, you cannot withdraw from your SIPP.

What is the age 75 rule? ›

As a general rule, if you die before you turn 75, any pension death benefits you leave are free from income tax. However, once you turn 75, the recipients of these death benefits will pay income tax at their marginal rate.

Why is 401k worse than pension? ›

Because it's a fixed amount, you'll be able to budget based on steady payments from your pension and Social Security benefits. A 401(k) is less stable. Your income in retirement is dependent on how much you and your employer contributed to the 401(k) and how the market affects your investments' performance.

Are pensions safer than 401k? ›

Though there are pros and cons to both plans, pensions are generally considered better than 401(k)s because all the investment and management risk is on your employer, while you are guaranteed a set income for life.

Can I take tax free cash from a SIPP? ›

Once you reach age 55, you can take 25% of your SIPP as a tax-free lump sum (subject to a maximum of £268,275 unless you have protection in place). Withdrawals beyond your tax-free cash will be subject to tax at your marginal rate of income tax.

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