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Closed petition: Make the Armed Forces pension tax free

Closed on

Make the Armed Forces pension at age 60 tax free.

We think this would balance out what we see as an injustice.

31,004 signatures


Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

  • Petition closed

  • Government responded to this petition

    The government hugely values the service of our armed forces but currently has no plans to make Armed Forces pensions tax free at age 60

    Read the response in full

    We are profoundly grateful for the service of members of our armed forces, and therefore it is only right that they are entitled to a pension that ensures dignity in retirement. Members of the Armed Forces Pension Schemes do not have to pay contributions to their pension schemes. These are the only public service pension schemes that are non-contributory.

    The government currently has no plans to make Armed Forces pensions tax free at age 60. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme provides tax-free lump sums to members on retirement. Other pension payments from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme are treated as taxable income under UK tax law. This tax treatment reflects the fact that pensions are forms of deferred income and as such are taxable. This same tax treatment applies to payments from all occupational pension schemes.

    HM Treasury

  • Government will respond to this petition

    This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 18 February 2026.