Moneymakeover 41 year old, married with new baby, self-build on the horizon, potential spouse redundancy - sense check appreciated

[CharlieMac]

... on employer matching, yes the maximum match available is 5% and I am already at that ceiling. Total contributions including AVCs are running at 25% of pensionable salary which is the Revenue maximum for my age band.

The employer match doesn't count toward your age related % contribution limit. You can put in 25% of your gross income yourself and get tax relief on all that and your employer can put in 5% of your gross income as well.

 

[ClubMan]

Total contributions including AVCs are running at 25% of pensionable salary which is the Revenue maximum for my age band.

Do you mean 25% of the €115K cap?

My gross annual income: €98,500 base (sales role, large multinational). A further ~€60,000 variable/commission projected for 2026, not relied upon for fixed household spend.

Tax relief limits on pension contributions

This page outlines the tax relief limits on pension contributions

www.revenue.ie

Total earnings limit​

The maximum amount of earnings taken into account for calculating tax relief is €115,000 per year.

Employer contributions to an employee's scheme are not taken into consideration when calculating the employee's earnings threshold.

 

[Blackrock1]

PENSION
To answer the question on employer matching, yes the maximum match available is 5% and I am already at that ceiling. Total contributions including AVCs are running at 25% of pensionable salary which is the Revenue maximum for my age band.

your personal contribution cap is 28750 whatever your employer puts in is above that (5% is pretty stingy in the context of your remuneration especially given you are only getting it on the non variable portion)

 

[misemoi]

And to my best knowledge you can't "assign" your income over 115k to your lower earning spouse for tax relief on pension contributions, it is a personal limit. Though in your case it is moot as she is also almost at limit as well, unless she has not been maxing contributions there may be some room there. (would love to be proved wrong on this if anyone has found otherwise!)