Understand Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs)
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Planning for retirement is a crucial aspect of financial planning, and choosing the right pension scheme is paramount.
With numerous options available, navigating the world of pensions can feel overwhelming. However, one increasingly popular choice among individuals is the Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA).
In this blog, we’ll delve into the essentials of PRSAs, providing you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about your retirement savings.
What is a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA)?
A PRSA, or Personal Retirement Savings Account, is a retirement savings tool that puts you in control of your financial future.
It’s a pension account that you own personally, allowing you the flexibility to save for retirement on your own terms.
With a PRSA, you have the freedom to contribute whenever you choose and can stop making contributions at any time.
When is the best time to start a PRSA?
Starting early is essential. The earlier you start contributing to your pension, the larger your retirement savings can grow over time.
The power of compound interest and time is on your side, making today the best moment to begin securing your financial future in preparation for retirement.
You can open a PRSA whenever you’re over 18. However, the older you are when you start, the larger the contributions you’ll need to make to ensure a substantial pension fund.
Check out our articles on retirement planning strategies tailored for every life stage.
- Retirement Planning in Your 20s
- Retirement Planning in Your 30s
- Retirement Planning in Your 40s
- Retirement Planning in Your 50s and 60s
- Embracing the Golden Years: A Guide to Post-Retirement Planning
- Retirement Planning in Ireland: Your Comprehensive Guide
How does your PRSA investment work?
Your pension contributions are placed into investment funds aimed at increasing your savings.
Typically, the farther you are from retirement, the more aggressive your investment options can be.
Talk to one of our financial advisors at True Wealth. We can guide you through a variety of investment solutions tailored to your preferred level of risk.
For more information, check out our article on sustainable investment funds. This option allows you to potentially achieve favourable returns by merging financial factors with ethical values.
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How can I check the performance of my PRSA?
Every year (or every six months, depending on the provider), you’ll receive a pension statement from the provider.
This statement will detail the contributions made to your PRSA and an investment report showing the returns earned on the funds.
The annual pension statement also includes a projection of potential future benefits you could receive upon retirement. This projection is based on the current value of your PRSA, expected future contributions, prevailing charges, and assumed rates of investment growth.
Can I transfer to and from my PRSA?
Yes, transferring your pension to and from your PRSA is possible, provided that legislative requirements are met.
Transfers into your PRSA
Your PRSA can accept transfers from various sources, including another PRSA, an Occupational Pension Plan, a Retirement Annuity Contract (Personal Pension Plan), refunds of contributions from an occupational pension scheme, and pension arrangements outside the State.
Usually, there are no initial charges imposed on transfers received into any of our PRSA products.
Transfers from your PRSA
If you decide to transfer your accumulated fund to another pension arrangement, several types of pensions may accept transfers from your PRSA, including another PRSA, an Occupational Pension Plan, and pension arrangements outside the State.
Key Benefits of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs)
Tax Deductible Contributions
One of the primary advantages of PRSAs is the tax benefits they offer. Contributions made to a PRSA are typically tax-deductible, meaning you can reduce your taxable income by contributing to your retirement savings.
Contribution amount qualifying for tax deduction
The tax relief for pension contributions has two primary limitations: an age-related earnings percentage limit and a total earnings limit.
You can receive tax relief up to the applicable age-related percentage limit of your earnings within a given year.
For example, if you’re 29 years old, to avail of tax relief, there’s a limit of 15% of your total income that can be allocated to your pension fund.
As you move through the age groups, this allocation limit gradually increases until it reaches its maximum at age 60 and beyond, at which point it stands at 40% of your salary.
The maximum annual earnings taken into account for calculating tax relief is €115,000.
Note that employer contributions to an employee’s pension scheme do not influence the calculation of the employee’s earnings threshold.
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How tax relief works
If you contribute to a pension plan, you are eligible to receive income tax relief on your contributions.
The maximum income tax rate that applies to you, also known as the marginal rate, determines the amount of tax relief on your pension payments.
The exact benefits and rules can vary, so it’s advisable to consult with one of our financial advisors at True Wealth.
Alternatively, delve into our Retirement Guide to gain a comprehensive understanding of various aspects crucial for planning your retirement.
Tax-Free Investment Gains
Within a PRSA, any investment gains generated are not subject to taxation. This tax-free growth enables individuals to maximise the growth potential of their retirement savings.
Accessibility
PRSAs are accessible to everyone, regardless of their employment status. Whether you’re a full-time employee without a pension, self-employed or even taking a career break, you have the option to open a PRSA and start saving for retirement.
Flexibility
PRSAs offer flexibility in terms of contribution amounts. You can adjust your contributions according to your financial circumstances, increasing, decreasing, or even stopping contributions altogether without incurring penalties.
Portability
Another key benefit of PRSAs is their portability. You can carry your PRSA from one job to another or transfer it to a different PRSA provider without facing any charges or penalties.
This mobility ensures that you can maintain continuity in your retirement savings regardless of changes in employment.
To gain further insights into transitioning careers or changing jobs while maintaining your pension plan, we recommend reading our article, What Happens To Your Pension After Leaving Your Job?
Retirement Options
Upon reaching retirement, you have the option to withdraw a tax-free lump sum equivalent to 25% of your fund, capped at a maximum of €200,000.
Subsequently, the remaining portion of your fund can be allocated towards either an Annuity or an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF).
If you set up a PRSA for making Additional Voluntary Contributions, it’s important to note that you must access your benefits from the PRSA the same way you get benefits from the primary scheme.
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Whether you’re considering setting up a PRSA or seeking expert advice on retirement strategies, we’re here to help you make informed decisions and achieve your financial goals.
Trust True Wealth to provide personalised solutions tailored to your unique circumstances, ensuring a secure and prosperous retirement ahead.
Gain valuable insights by exploring our Retirement Planning Guide, offering comprehensive knowledge to help you navigate the intricacies of retirement planning and pensions.
We are also experts in personal and business protection, savings and investments, pension tracing, personal and business financial planning, mortgages, and wealth management and extraction.
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All our content has been written or overseen by a qualified financial advisor. However, you should always seek individual financial advice for your unique circumstances.
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