Overview
- HMRC repaid £48,560,205 to pension savers between July and September 2025, with an average refund of £3,539.
- Emergency tax often applies to first-time or one-off withdrawals when a Month 1 (M1) code treats the payment as recurring income.
- Savers can identify emergency tax by checking whether their tax code ends with M1.
- Eligible claimants can seek early repayments using forms P53Z, P50Z or P55, depending on whether the pot was emptied and their work or benefit status.
- Up to 25% of a pension can be withdrawn tax-free from age 55, and experts advise a smaller initial withdrawal to reduce emergency tax exposure when feasible.