LSA & LSDBA Calculator
Track your tax-free pension lump sum allowances under the new rules effective from 6 April 2024.
Tax year 2026/27 ·
Track your tax-free lump sums against the standard LSA (£268,275) and LSDBA (£1,073,100). Use "With Protections" if you have LTA protection or pre-April 2024 crystallisation events.
Lump Sum Allowance (LSA)
£268,275
Maximum tax-free lump sums you can take
Lump Sum & Death Benefit Allowance
£1,073,100
Includes death benefits for estate planning
Add Lump Sum Events
Enter each tax-free lump sum you've taken since 6 April 2024.
About the Lump Sum Allowances
From 6 April 2024, the Lifetime Allowance (LTA) was abolished and replaced with two new allowances that limit the amount of tax-free cash you can take from your pension:
Lump Sum Allowance (LSA)
£268,275
The maximum total tax-free lump sums you can take across your lifetime from PCLS, UFPLS, and SALS.
Lump Sum & Death Benefit Allowance
£1,073,100
A wider cap that includes tax-free death benefits and serious ill-health lump sums.
What counts against your LSA?
- • PCLS - Pension Commencement Lump Sum (tax-free cash at retirement)
- • UFPLS - Uncrystallised Funds Pension Lump Sum (25% tax-free portion)
- • SALS - Stand-alone Lump Sum
What counts against your LSDBA?
Everything that counts against LSA, plus:
- • Serious Ill-Health Lump Sums - Paid if diagnosed with a serious illness
- • Lump Sum Death Benefits - Tax-free lump sums paid to beneficiaries
LTA Protection Types
If you registered for LTA protection with HMRC, you may have higher allowances:
| Protection | LSA | LSDBA |
|---|---|---|
| No Protection | £268,275 | £1,073,100 |
| Enhanced Protection | Unlimited* | Unlimited* |
| Fixed Protection 2012 | £450,000 | £1,800,000 |
| Fixed Protection 2014 | £375,000 | £1,500,000 |
| Fixed Protection 2016 | £312,500 | £1,250,000 |
| Individual Protection 2014 | Up to £375,000 | Up to £1,500,000 |
| Individual Protection 2016 | Up to £312,500 | Up to £1,250,000 |
*Enhanced Protection provides unlimited allowances for pre-A-Day crystallised rights only.
Transitional Rules
If you took pension benefits before 6 April 2024, your allowances are reduced:
- • Default method: Your LSA is reduced by 25% of the LTA percentage you previously used. For example, if you used 40% of LTA, your LSA reduces by £107,310 (40% × £1,073,100 × 25%).
- • TTFAC method: If you have a Transitional Tax-Free Amount Certificate from your scheme, you can use the actual certified amount instead of the default calculation.
How this calculator works
The calculator starts from your applicable allowances (standard
LSA £268,275 / LSDBA £1,073,100, or the higher protected
amounts if you hold LTA protection), subtracts lump sums already taken, and — if
you crystallised benefits before 6 April 2024 — applies the transitional
deduction (25% × LTA percentage used × £1,073,100) or your TTFAC
amount if you have a certificate.
- Assumes lump sums qualify as PCLS/UFPLS/SALS under current rules; scheme-specific rules can differ.
- TTFAC figures come from your scheme — the calculator can't derive them.
- Allowance figures are frozen at 2024 levels under current legislation.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Lump sum allowance and lump sum and death benefit allowance — post-April 2024 allowance rules
- HMRC Pensions Tax Manual — PTM171000 onwards — transitional rules and protections
- GOV.UK — Protect your pension lifetime allowance — protection types and protected amounts
Full formulas and worked examples for every calculator are on our methodology page.
Related calculators
Pension Tax Relief Calculator
Calculate your tax relief on pension contributions for 2026/27. Compare Relief at Source, Net Pay, and Salary Sacrifice methods.
Early Retirement Calculator
Calculate your path to Financial Independence and Early Retirement. Factor in SIPP, LISA, DB pensions and state pension with backwards calculation.
Combined Retirement Income Calculator
Calculate your total UK retirement income from State Pension, DB and DC pensions. Compare against PLSA Retirement Living Standards.
Found this calculator helpful? Buy us a coffee!