← Calculators/Tax year 2026/27·Last reviewed
Lump sum allowance (LSA) calculator
What a planned PCLS consumes, what remains, and any excess at marginal rate — under the post-LTA framework.
Free, no sign-up. Runs the same engine and the same versioned tax-year config the signed-in suite uses — nothing leaves your browser. How we verify the numbers.
The lump sum, and what's already used.
The pension commencement lump sum the member intends to take.
From post-April-2024 events. Pre-2024 crystallisations → use the TTFAC calculator first.
Enhanced / Primary Protection need member-specific factors — use the full workflow.
The LSA framework applies from 2024/25 — earlier years used the LTA regime.
— How it's calculated
The Lump Sum Allowance
From 6 April 2024 the Lifetime Allowance was replaced by two lump-sum ceilings. The LSA caps the tax-free cash a member can take across their lifetime — £268,275 as standard. Each pension commencement lump sum consumes allowance pound-for-pound; once the allowance is exhausted, further lump sums are taxed as the member's pension income at their marginal rate.
PTM171000 · FA 2024 Sch 9
Protection raises the ceiling
Members holding Fixed Protection 2016 keep a £312,500 LSA. Individual Protection 2014 and 2016 give 25% of the protected LTA (capped at £1.5m and £1.25m respectively). Enhanced and Primary Protection carry member-specific factors — the quick tool above covers the fixed and individual regimes; the full workflow handles the rest.
PTM176000 (protections under the new framework)
Pre-2024 crystallisations
Benefits crystallised under the old LTA regime reduce the LSA by a default of 25% of the LTA percentage used. Where the member actually took less tax-free cash than the default assumes, a Transitional Tax-Free Amount Certificate can substitute the evidenced figure — sometimes recovering substantial allowance. Run the TTFAC calculator before relying on the default.
PTM174000 (transitional rules)
— Worked example
- Standard LSA
- £268,275
- Used before this event
- £100,000
- Consumed by this event (capped at remaining)
- £168,275
- Remaining after this event
- £0
- Excess — taxed at marginal rate
- £31,725
Computed live by the same engine the tool above runs. The excess is taxed as the member's pension income at their marginal rate — the old 55%/25% LTA charges were abolished from 6 April 2024.
— Related
— When you're ready
Save the calc to a client and get the branded compliance PDF — full working, legislative references, config version, sign-off trail.
3 free calcs / month · no card required · cancel any time.
For planning and illustration purposes only · Verify all inputs against source documents · This tool does not constitute financial or tax advice.