This option is totally dependent on the rules of your fund. Some pension / provident fund rules stipulate that you may not exercise this option and must reinvest your pension / provident fund monies. If you have the cash withdrawal option the first R22 500 will be tax-free and the balance will be taxed. Remember if you make a cash withdrawal from your pension / provident fund you will have to invest a larger amount at a later stage to make up for the shortfall. Most people never can make up the shortfall, and find they become reliant on their family in their retirement. Some never will be able to retire and will have to work for the rest of their lives. You also can forfeit a large portion of your employer's contribution if you take a cash withdrawal.
Retirement Annuity
If you are not a disciplined individual a retirement annuity could be a good option as you will not be able withdraw the money until you are 55 or older and then you can only withdraw one third of the capital. The balance must buy you an annuity (Pension) which will pay you a monthly income on retirement.
Invest in your new employees fund
You can invest your pension / provident in your new employees fund. The problem is you will have no control over your assets and the money cannot be accessed until you retire or leave the company.
Preservation Fund
This is a private retirement fund, which belongs to you. The preservation fund is a place where you can leave your money until you reach retirement age. This would generally be your best option.
• There is no tax payable on the transfer to a preservation fund.
• The years that you have worked for your employer will be taken into account when you calculate your tax-free lump sum at retirement.
• You have total discretion where the money is invested and you can make changes at any time.
• If you are in a provident fund you will retain the option of full cash payout at retirement.
• If you are retrenched from your new company and do not find employment you can access part of or the full amount from the preservation fund.
• Only one cash withdrawal can be made and this is restricted to the rules of your previous pension or provident fund.
Withdrawal Benefit |
Pension Fund |
Provident Fund |
Retirement Annuity |
Cash Lump Sum |
Cash Lump Sum |
Cash Lump Sum |
Subject to rules of the fund.
You may not have this option. |
Entire amount |
Withdrawal not allowed prior to 55, except upon death or disability |
Provident Fund, Pension Fund and Retirement Annuity
|
The taxable lump sum withdrawal benefit which accrued from 1 March 2009 and retirement lump sum benefits which accrued from 1 October 2007 are aggregated. This aggregated amount is taxed according to the table below: |
R0 - R25 000 |
0% of the taxable income |
R25 001 - R660 000 |
18% of the taxable income exceeding R25 000 |
R660 001 - R990 000 |
R114 300 plus 27% of the taxable income exceeding R660 000 |
R990 001 and above |
R203 400 plus 36% of taxable income exceeding R990 000 |
The tax is reduced by the tax calculated in accordance with the above table on such lump sum benefit accrued prior to the lump sum in respect of which the tax is being determined. |
1 On withdrawal from your pension / provident fund. Will you get the employer's contribution, plus the growth, or only your share?
2 You could have a conversion option on your group life assurance (GLA). The GLA is the life cover from the company's pension / provident fund that would be paid out to your dependants or beneficiaries on your death. This cover can be continued if you leave the company but the option to continue must be exercised within 30 days of your departure. Normally the only medical test required is an HIV test. You would then pay the premium on your new life policy.
3. Deferred compensation must be ceded to your new employer, as it is a company owned policy. This means that only a company will get a tax deduction on the contributions.
4 A withdrawal form must be completed for the pension / provident fund and this must be signed by your human resources manager.
5 The transfer from the pension / provident fund can take up to three months; this is totally dependent on the rules and the cash flow of the fund.
6 If you are taking the cash option your tax returns must be up to date with the Receiver of Revenue.
7 Don't take any money from your pension / provident fund to pay back any payment to the old pension fund (housing loans etc) as this would be your one and only withdrawal. Rather have the option to make a withdrawal from your preservation fund at a later stage.
8 Find out when the pension / provident funds final investment returns are distributed. Your "actuarial value" (also known as the liability of the fund) and the fund surplus, if any, should be known.
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