allergic to HR

[jamesbrown]

Yes, came accross this once before but while it may give you some confidence (or defence if they're wrong) against the calculations it's still reliant on accurately entering every last contribtuon from the last few years. Given multiple providers, personal and co contributions and transfers between providers this isn't as straightforward as some might think.

Don't really like the nature of the data aquisition given that I'm sure they already have the information anyway. Seems like an opportunity to dob yourself in with their psuedo lie-detector test

Well, yes, it does require you to keep accurate records. I cannot see how else you would get an accurate result. The more complex your situation, the more important it becomes to document everything very carefully. Lesson learned, I guess.

[MrC]

Well, yes, it does require you to keep accurate records. I cannot see how else you would get an accurate result. The more complex your situation, the more important it becomes to document everything very carefully. Lesson learned, I guess.

The accurate (and definitive) position should be provedid by hmrc in my view.

I'm pretty sure when you complete self assessment the income for a paye roles is prefilled with the figures the employer provided to hmrc. Don't see a good reason why they can't provide similar for pension allowance as i'm sure all pension providers report to them.

Of course the cynic in me might say that they only use the info to tell you after the event when you've exceeded your allowances and have penalty tax to pay

So granted its time to compile, check and recheck my figures

[WTFH]

The accurate (and definitive) position should be provedid by hmrc in my view.

Why? Unless you tell them all the details of your finances, how are they to know?
Do they hold a detailed record of your share portfolio?

Of course the cynic in me might say that they only use the info to tell you after the event when you've exceeded your allowances and have penalty tax to pay

The cynic in me would say that if you are not managing your money yourself to know when you might be getting close to exceeding allowances and having to (shock horror) pay some extra tax, then you need to learn how to manage your money better.

So granted its time to compile, check and recheck my figures

Pay a professional to do it for you. You provide them with the information and they will tell you the figures. Of course, it does mean you need to know what your own financial situation is, what is stashed where, etc. And you will have to pay them to provide that service.