Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)

Take control of your financial future with all the benefits of a pension, plus the freedom to decide where your money is invested.

 
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Benefits

  • Tax relief: Save more with immediate tax relief on your contributions.
  • Complete control: You decide - from how you invest, to how you take your pension.
  • Wide investment choice: Invest in shares, bonds, gilts, and more, including our Start-Up Fund.
  • Currently for existing Bank of Scotland customers only. It's easy to become a customer, open an account today.


For customers with an existing account administered by AJ Bell (opened before 25th October 2024), see how to manage your account.

Why choose a Bank of Scotland SIPP?

Competitive administration charge

0.25% annual SIPP admin charge on investment value (capped at £16.50 a month), with no transfer or drawdown charges.

Keep track on the go

Track your pension anytime, anywhere, using the app, just like you do with everyday banking.

Helping hand

Use our investment tools and analysis to make your own choices, or check out our Start-Up Fund which offers a packaged solution, targeting your planned retirement age.

Flexible contributions

Make regular or one-off contributions from as little as £1. If you’re a limited company director, you can also make employer contributions from your business.

Pensions are a long-term investment. The benefits you receive depend on a number of factors, including the value of your pension pot when you choose to claim any benefits. That value isn't guaranteed and can go down as well as up. It could fall below the amount paid in. Any tax treatment depends on your personal circumstances and may change in the future.

Why should I invest in a SIPP?

 

Tax relief

With a SIPP, your investments and any profits made from these, are protected from UK capital gains, income and inheritance tax.

When you pay into your SIPP you could also benefit from government tax relief.

  • 20% basic tax relief on your personal contributions, up to age 75.
  • Higher/additional rate taxpayers can normally claim extra relief through their tax returns.

No earnings? No problem. You can contribute up to £2,880 a year, and benefit from a £720 HMRC top up of tax relief, giving you £3,600 in total.

Control over your investments

A SIPP allows you to have freedom to decide how and where your money is invested. You can pick between funds, ETFs, UK and international shares, bonds, gilts and investment trusts.

With so many investment options available, we offer a range of useful tools to help:

  • Funds select list - A shortlist of funds independently chosen by FE fundinfo, based on a set of criteria we provide.
  • ETF Quicklist - A shortlist of Exchange-Traded Funds to help you create the basic building blocks of an investment portfolio.
  • Research centre – All the latest market news and opportunities, anytime you need fresh investment inspiration.
  • Start-Up Fund – An investment solution designed for a typical investor which may be suitable for those not sure where to invest.

Combine your pensions

Combining old pensions is another way to grow your pension pot. And could cut your overall charges and admin – making it cheaper and easier to see how your money’s doing. Find out more to help decide if this might be right for you on our combine your pensions page.

Combining your pensions

Flexibility at retirement

Our SIPP offers flexible options, so from age 55 (57 from 2028) you can take money from your pension, when the time is right, in a way that suits you.

  • Drawdown (Flexi-access Drawdown) take a one-off tax-free lump sum of up to 25%, and then have the freedom to choose how and when you take the rest of your money.
  • Taking a taxable lump sum (also known as an uncrystallised pension lump sum) also allows you to withdraw as much or as little as you like as a lump sum, with 25% of each withdrawal tax-free.
  • An annuity is a way to take a one-off tax-free lump sum of up to 25%, and use the rest to buy a guaranteed regular income for life (we don’t offer an annuity but we can help you find an annuity provider to do this).
  • Leave it invested – keep your SIPP invested in the way you want to, for however long you want.
     

Things to consider

  • Lump sum allowance (LSA): Generally, you can take 25% of your SIPP as a tax-free lump sum, up to a maximum of the LSA, which is currently £268,275.
  • Money Purchase Annual Allowance: The Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPAA) limit applies once you start taking income from your SIPP – this could be a withdrawal from your flexi-access drawdown or taking a taxable lump sum (UFPLS). The MPAA limits impacts the amount you can pay into your SIPP in the future without incurring a tax charge. This limit is currently £10,000 each tax year (although the Government may change this in future).
  • Lump sum and death benefit allowance (LSDBA): Currently £1,073,100, this is a limit of tax-free death benefit lump sums that can be paid to your beneficiaries on your death. The LSDBA will be reduced by any tax-free lump sums or withdrawals you have taken during your lifetime.

Please read our Retirement guide (PDF, 291KB) for more information.

What charges do I pay?

It’s important that you understand what you will pay. Below are our dealing commission and account charges, but you should read our Charges page for the full details.

 

Types of charges

Types of charges

What you'll pay

Types of charges

Annual SIPP admin charge

What you'll pay

0.25% of the value of your Investments (charged monthly up to a maximum of £16.50 a month)

Types of charges

Online UK trades

What you'll pay

£9.50

Types of charges

Online fund trades

What you'll pay

£9.50 

Types of charges

International trades

What you'll pay

Free (1.25% exchange rate applies)

Types of charges

What you'll pay

Free

It’s important to remember that you may also pay government taxes and levies depending on the investment you choose and your circumstances.

Apply for a SIPP

You must be an existing Internet or Mobile Banking customer to open an account. Please check your personal details are up-to-date before continuing. If you don't already use Internet Banking, it's easy to register.

 

Before you start...

Please make sure...

  1. are from a UK based provider
  2. have not already entered into drawdown (e.g. you’ve not taken an income or a tax-free lump sum from them)
  3. don’t have any valuable features or guarantees that you’d potentially lose upon transferring.

Apply now

You just need:

  • Your National Insurance number.
  • Any transferring provider’s name, policy number, and the type and value of each pension.

To start your application:

  • Login to your account.
  • Find the Wealth and Retirement section on the left menu.
  • Select Open a SIPP.
Login and apply Login and apply.

Apply for a SIPP

You must be an existing Internet or Mobile Banking customer to open an account. Please check your personal details are up-to-date before continuing. If you don't already use Internet Banking, it's easy to register.

 

Before you start...

Please make sure...

  1. are from a UK based provider
  2. have not already entered into drawdown (e.g. you’ve not taken an income or a tax-free lump sum from them)
  3. don’t have any valuable features or guarantees that you’d potentially lose upon transferring.

Apply now

You just need:

  • Your National Insurance number.
  • Any transferring provider’s name, policy number, and the type and value of each pension.

To start your application:

  • Login to your account.
  • Find the Pensions section through apply.
  • Select Open a SIPP.
Login and apply Login and apply.

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What is a pension?

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Ready-Made Pension

For an easier way of saving for your retirement, see how our Ready-Made Pension could help.

Ready-Made Pension Ready-Made Pension.

SIPP explained

Find out more about Self-Invested Personal Pensions with Bank of Scotland.

SIPP explained SIPP explained.

fscs protected logo 

Your money is protected

Investments with Bank of Scotland Share Dealing are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. This limit is applied to the aggregated total of any stock or cash held across the following brands which we administer.

This is in addition to any other savings deposits you may hold across Lloyds Banking Group.

Important legal information

Bank of Scotland Share Dealing Service is operated by Halifax Share Dealing Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3195646. Registered Office: Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2RG. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 183332. A Member of the London Stock Exchange and an HM Revenue & Customs Approved ISA Manager.

Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628.

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Pick your own investments

Investing in stocks and shares doesn't have to be difficult. With our support, we can help you find the right account for you.

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