Concerns as to whether Labour could potentially reinstate the pension lifetime allowance (LTA) have persisted, with the British Medical Association (BMA) warning that the current lack of clarity around Labour's plans could risk an “exodus” of the NHS's most senior clinicians.

The Finance Act 2024 previously delivered an amended pensions tax regime, effective from 6 April 2024, in which the LTA on most pension and lump sum benefits was replaced by two new allowances on most lump sum benefits.

However, industry experts warned at the time that this was a "rushed job with errors and omissions coming to light, resulting in HMRC having to now engage in a patch and mend job through regulations that are promised".

And while HMRC had confirmed plans to share further technical changes through a second set of regulations "shortly", news of the summer election has thrown these plans into limbo.

Given this backdrop, and recent reports suggesting that Labour remains committed to re-introducing a lifetime allowance, industry experts have warned that any re-introduction of the LTA would cause an "incredible amount" of disruption and confusion.

The BMA has also raised concerns over the lack of clarity provided by Labour over the plans so far, calling for greater detail about what the party plans to do to address concerns around the "punitive" pension tax rules.

In its response to the Labour Party’s plan to reduce NHS waiting times if elected, the BMA said: “Importantly, Labour doesn’t say what it plans to do about senior doctors being prevented from taking on extra NHS shifts due to persistently punitive and complex pension taxation rules.

“And there’s still no assurance that doctors wouldn’t be punished if a Labour government re-instates the pension lifetime allowance – risking an exodus of our most senior clinicians who are so critical to reducing waiting lists.”

This comes as research from TPT Retirement Solutions found that nearly half (44 per cent) of savers oppose the return of the lifetime allowance, while 91 per cent support tax reforms to make it easier for people to invest more in their pensions.

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