SIPP
Self-Invested Personal Pension
SIPPs can hold a wide range of eligible investments, including most stocks and ETFs. Fractional investing may also be available on eligible instruments within these accounts. Some restrictions apply, as certain investments are not permitted within tax-efficient wrappers or may not be supported for fractional investing. The full list of eligible investments will be set out in our product information.
We offer SIPPs to eligible UK tax residents aged 18 or over. Availability is subject to our eligibility checks and account terms. For more information click here.
You can hold one SIPP with us.
No; we do not currently charge an account fee for our SIPPs. Other product-specific or market-related charges may still apply where relevant, and these will always be disclosed clearly in our pricing information.
Minimum deposit and investment amounts depend on the account and product type. For most investment accounts, including ISAs and Invest Accounts, the minimum may be as low as £1.00 for eligible investments. For CFD accounts, the minimum deposit is expected to be higher, such as £10. Any applicable minimums will be clearly shown in the app before funding or investing.
Yes; we support in-specie transfers out for eligible investments, allowing you to transfer your holdings to another provider without selling them first. In-specie transfers in are not supported as standard for SIPP accounts.
A SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) is a type of pension account in the UK that lets you save and invest for retirement with more control and flexibility than a standard workplace pension.
With a SIPP, you choose where your money is invested, such as shares, funds, ETFs, or bonds, rather than relying on a pension provider to make the decisions for you. The main goal is to grow your pension pot over time so you can use it when you retire.
One of the key benefits of a SIPP is tax relief. When you pay money in, the government adds tax relief on your contributions (up to certain limits), which effectively boosts your pension savings. Investments inside a SIPP also grow free from UK income tax and capital gains tax.
You usually can't access money in a SIPP until age 55 (rising to 57 from 2028), except in special circumstances. When you do access it, you can typically take part of it as a tax-free lump sum, with the rest taxed as income.
In simple terms, a SIPP is a pension where you choose your own investments and get tax advantages to help you save for retirement.
Yes; you can. In the UK, you can open a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) even if you already have other pensions, such as workplace or previous employer pensions. There is no limit on the number of pension pots you can hold. However, your total pension contributions across all pensions are generally limited by the annual allowance, which is currently up to £60,000.00 per tax year (or 100% of your earnings if lower). This limit includes tax-relieved contributions made by you, your employer, and any tax relief added by the government.
A SIPP can be used alongside your existing pensions to give you more control over your investments, or you may choose to transfer other pensions into it (subject to checks and suitability).
In short, you can open a SIPP even if you already have other pensions — just keep in mind the overall £60,000.00 annual allowance for tax-efficient contributions.
You can start accessing your SIPP once you reach the minimum pension access age, which is currently 55 (rising to 57 from 2028). When you're eligible, you can begin by contacting your provider to review your options and complete the necessary retirement or withdrawal process.
Typically, you'll be able to choose how you take your money. Many people start by taking up to 25% of their pension pot as a tax-free lump sum, while the rest can be left invested or taken as taxable withdrawals over time. You may also have options such as taking flexible income (drawdown) or purchasing an annuity.
Before you access your SIPP, it's usually recommended to check your retirement income needs and understand the tax implications, since any withdrawals beyond the tax-free portion are treated as taxable income.
You can make personal contributions to your pension by paying money directly into your pension account, through our platform.
Log in to your account and choose the option to add money or make a contribution. You can then make a one-off payment via online banking and/or bank transfer or set up a regular monthly contribution using a standing order.
When you contribute to a pension, you may also receive tax relief from the government, which is usually added automatically or claimed by us on your behalf. This means your contribution is topped up to reflect basic rate tax relief, and higher-rate taxpayers may be able to claim additional relief through their tax return. It's important to stay within the annual pension allowance, which is currently up to £60,000.00 per tax year (or 100% of your earnings if lower), including all contributions and tax relief.
Yes; you can. Our SIPP allows you to hold cash within the account. Any money you contribute that hasn't yet been invested will usually sit as cash in your SIPP's cash facility. You can also choose to keep part of your pension in cash if you prefer to wait before investing or to manage risk.
That cash can typically be used later to buy investments such as shares, funds, or ETFs, depending on what your SIPP provider offers. While it's held as cash, it may earn interest with our rate of X%.
Not at any time, no. A SIPP is designed for retirement savings, so you generally can't withdraw money whenever you like. You can usually only access your SIPP once you reach the minimum pension access age, which is currently 55 (rising to 57 from 2028), unless you meet specific exceptional circumstances such as serious ill health.
Once you are eligible, you can withdraw cash from your SIPP, but it's not a single "cash-out" account. Instead, you can choose how to take your money - for example, taking lump sums or setting up regular withdrawals. Typically, up to 25% of your pension can be taken tax-free, while the rest is usually taxed as income. Until then, your money stays invested or held in cash within the pension wrapper and continues to benefit from pension tax advantages.
Employer contributions are not currently available for our SIPP. However, support for employer contributions is on our roadmap and we expect to offer this feature in the near future. We will provide further details and guidance once this functionality becomes available.
If you're suffering from serious ill health, you'll be able to access your SIPP before the usual minimum pension age (currently 55, rising to 57 from 2028), but this depends on medical evidence.
In most cases, you'll need to contact us and explain your situation. We will usually ask for supporting documentation from a medical professional confirming that your life expectancy is expected to be less than a certain period, or that you meet HMRC's definition of serious ill health. This definition is quite strict, so eligibility is assessed carefully.
If approved, you may be able to take your pension as a serious ill-health lump sum. In many cases, if you are under 75 and meet the conditions, this can be paid tax-free up to certain limits, with anything above those limits potentially subject to tax depending on the circumstances.
We will guide you through the process, including what forms are needed and how your pension can be paid out.
Yes; if you have unused pension allowance from the previous three tax years, you may be able to carry this forward and contribute more than the current year's annual allowance. It is your responsibility to ensure you remain within your available allowance, as exceeding it could result in a tax charge from HMRC. If applicable, a pension savings statement will be issued.
The primary distinction lies in investment flexibility and control. While both are defined contribution schemes, where the final value depends on how much you pay in and how the investments perform, a SIPP is designed for individuals who want to take an active role in their investment strategy.
Tax relief is one of the most powerful benefits of a SIPP. When you contribute to your SIPP, the government effectively adds back the income tax you have already paid on that money. This is typically handled through "relief at source."
- Basic Rate (20%): For every £80 you contribute, the government adds £20, bringing the total to £100.
- Higher Rate (40%): You receive the same 20% boost automatically, but you can claim an additional 20% back through your annual Self-Assessment tax return.
- Additional Rate (45%): You can claim an additional 25% back through Self-Assessment.
Example: If a higher-rate taxpayer wants to put £10,000 into their SIPP, they only need to pay in £8,000. The provider adds £2,000 (20% relief). The individual then claims a further £2,000 back from HMRC via their tax return, making the "effective" cost of a £10,000 investment just £6,000.
The Annual Allowance is the maximum amount you can contribute to all your pensions in a tax year while still receiving tax relief. For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard allowance is £60,000. However, your personal contributions are also limited to 100% of your relevant UK earnings.
Carry Forward allows you to make use of unused annual allowances from the previous three tax years, provided you were a member of a registered UK pension scheme during those years. This is particularly useful for individuals who have a sudden spike in income or want to make a large "catch-up" contribution. Example: If you only used £20,000 of your £60,000 allowance in each of the last three years, you have £120,000 (£40,000 x 3) in unused allowances. Combined with your current year's £60,000, you could potentially contribute up to £180,000 this year, provided you have sufficient earnings to cover the personal contribution element.
The FCA allows a broad range of "permissible assets." Our SIPPs allow you to hold:
- Equities: Shares in companies listed on major global stock exchanges (e.g., LSE, NYSE, NASDAQ).
- Funds: Unit trusts, Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs), and Investment Trusts.
- ETFs: Exchange-Traded Funds that track specific indices or sectors.
- Cash: Holding cash within the wrapper while waiting for investment opportunities.
Yes; to prevent SIPPs from being used for personal gain outside of retirement, the government prohibits "taxable property." This includes residential property, art, wine, and classic cars. Investing in these can trigger a tax charge of up to 55%.
Under current UK law, the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) is 55. This is scheduled to rise to 57 on April 6, 2028. You do not need to stop working to start accessing your SIPP.
You have several options to withdraw funds from your SIPP once you reach the minimum age:
- Tax-Free Lump Sum: You can usually take up to 25% of your total pot as a tax-free payment.
- Flexi-Access Drawdown: You keep your money invested and take an income from it as and when you need it.
- Annuity: You use your pot to buy a guaranteed income for life from an insurance company.
- Uncrystallised Funds Pension Lump Sum (UFPLS): Taking specific amounts where 25% of each withdrawal is tax-free and 75% is taxed as income.
Important Note: Once you start taking a flexible income (drawdown or UFPLS), your annual allowance for future contributions drops to the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA), which is currently £10,000 per year.
SIPPs are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meaning we must follow strict rules regarding the segregation of client money. Your assets are held by a separate custodian or in a trust, so if we as the broker go bust, your investments remain protected and transferable to another provider.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) provides a safety net if we as an FCA-authorised firm fail.
- Investment Protection: If we as the firm managing your SIPP or holding your assets fail, you may be covered up to £120,000 per person, per institution (current 2026 limit).
- Cash Protection: Cash held in a SIPP bank account is typically protected up to the standard deposit limit (also £120,000 per institution).
SIPPs are generally held outside of your estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes, making them a highly tax-efficient way to pass on wealth.
- Before 75 - Beneficiaries can usually inherit the pot completely tax-free.
- After 75 - Beneficiaries pay income tax at their marginal rate on any withdrawals.
Yes; most defined contribution pensions can be transferred into a SIPP. This can help consolidate your savings and reduce overall fees. Before transferring, check if your current pension has "guaranteed annuity rates" or "protected tax-free cash" exceeding 25%. Also, check for exit fees. If you have a Defined Benefit (Final Salary) pension worth over £30,000, the FCA requires you to take professional financial advice before transferring.
For many, a SIPP acts as a powerful supplement to a workplace pension. While you should almost always prioritise a workplace pension to get your "employer match", a SIPP can offer:
- Greater Investment Choice: If your workplace scheme is limited.
- Lower Fees: For larger pots, a SIPP might be more cost-effective.
- Consolidation: A place to move pots from former employers.
Yes. Your SIPP is entirely separate from the UK State Pension. Having a SIPP does not reduce your State Pension entitlement, which is based on your National Insurance contribution record. A SIPP is designed to provide additional income on top of the State Pension to ensure a more comfortable retirement.
If you move outside the UK, you can keep your SIPP, but you may lose the right to receive UK tax relief on new contributions. The tax treatment of withdrawals will also depend on the "Double Taxation Agreement" between the UK and your new country of residence.
No; SIPPs are available on an "execution-only" basis, meaning you can open and manage one yourself. However, because you are responsible for the investment decisions, it is vital to ensure you understand the risks involved. If you are unsure, seeking professional advice is highly recommended.
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