The pension that puts directors in control
A SSAS is a tax-efficient pension, exclusively for business owners. Reduce Corporation Tax, buy commercial property, and lend back to your own company - all under your control.
A pension you control, built for business owners
The Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) is a corporate pension scheme that was devised by the government to help business owners align their pensions with their business strategies.
It gives business owners control, flexibility and full discretion over how they invest their pension funds. Unlike traditional pensions, a SSAS can invest in commercial property and can lend back to your company - up to 50% of the fund value. It is an extremely powerful scheme for those who are eligible, and can be combined with a Family Investment Company to achieve even greater tax efficiency.
See also: how to find the best SSAS providers.
One trust, working three ways
Your company funds the scheme, you control it as trustee, and it puts the money to work - tax-free.
Four things a SSAS lets you do
Things a personal pension or workplace scheme cannot. Tap any card to see how it works.
Employer contributions are an allowable business expense, so they reduce your taxable profit in the year they are paid - while the money stays invested for you inside the scheme.
A SSAS can buy commercial premises, including the building your company trades from. The company pays rent into your pension, and the property grows tax-free within the scheme. Rent is not lost to a landlord.
A loanback of up to 50% of the fund, on commercial terms set by HMRC:
- Maximum five-year term
- Interest at least 1% above base rate
- Secured as a first charge against an asset
- No more than 50% of net scheme assets
- Repaid in equal annual instalments
Invite up to 10 family members or key employees to pool pensions into one scheme - increasing investment power - and ring-fence family assets from creditors for a tax-efficient family trust.
Buy your trading premises through your pension
Instead of paying rent to a landlord, a SSAS can buy the building your company trades from. The company then pays its rent into your pension - and the property grows free of Capital Gains Tax inside the scheme.
- Rent builds your pension, not a landlord's
- Tax-free growth on the property
- The asset can pass to your family
See what you could save
Move the slider to your SSAS contribution and see the Corporation Tax saving.
Could a SSAS work for you?
Do you own or run a UK limited company?
Do you have surplus cash, profits, or old pensions to put to work?
What would you most like to do?
Why a SSAS, not a SIPP?
Both are self-invested pensions. The difference is control. Switch the tabs to compare.
- Corporate occupational scheme
- Members are the trustees - direct control
- Up to 11 members per scheme
- Exclusively for company directors
- Can loan 50% of funds to the business
- Can invest in commercial property
- Costs charged per scheme, not per member
- Regulated by HMRC and The Pensions Regulator
- Personal pension, third-party managed
- No control as trustee
- Single member only
- Open to individuals
- No loanback to your business
- Property options more limited
- Costs typically charged per member
- Regulated by the FCA and HMRC
An extremely tax-efficient wrapper
Because a SSAS is HMRC-registered, the advantages stack up.
Employer contributions receive upfront tax relief, saving Corporation Tax.
Assets are free of Corporation Tax, Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax.
Commercial property grows tax-free and earns tax-free rent from the company.
Loanback repayments grow tax-free inside the scheme, not at a bank.
Decreased Inheritance Tax liabilities, with assets ring-fenced from creditors.
Add family members to create a tax-efficient family trust.
SSAS questions, answered
The questions company directors ask us most.
SSAS stands for Small Self-Administered Scheme. This is a corporate pension scheme that is managed by trustees of the scheme. It can be set up by company directors. Members of the SSAS can choose how their pension funds are invested, giving all members more control over their pensions.
A SSAS is a pension trust that gives its members control of their pension funds and assets, allowing members to invest funds at their own discretion. A SSAS has access to every type of investment allowed under legislation, plus additional privileges such as investing in property or in your business. You can make permitted investments at any age; you do not need to be 55 to take control of the money in your pension.
A Small Self-Administered Scheme is a pension exclusively for business owners and company directors. The director sets up the SSAS and can then invite up to 10 other members - other company employees or family members.
- Registered with HMRC, it is an extremely tax-efficient wrapper.
- Sponsoring employers make contributions and receive upfront tax relief, saving Corporation Tax.
- Assets are free of Corporation Tax, Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax, with decreased Inheritance Tax.
- Commercial property grows tax-free while earning tax-free rent.
- Loanback payments go back into the SSAS, growing tax-free.
- Family assets are ring-fenced from creditors.
Timescales vary depending on checks and paperwork. Requesting your pension transfer values early helps. It can take a number of weeks to register your SSAS with HMRC and ensure everything is running correctly.
- A SSAS is a corporate pension for up to 11 company directors; a SIPP is a personal pension for individuals.
- A SSAS can loan 50% of its funds to the business and invest in commercial property.
- A SIPP is regulated by the FCA and HMRC; a SSAS by HMRC and The Pensions Regulator.
No. The SSAS has been around since 1973. It was created exclusively for company directors as a corporate pension that is fully compliant with HMRC and The Pensions Regulator rules.
A SSAS can receive profits from a Family Investment Company without a tax charge, and make investments not subject to Capital Gains Tax or Corporation Tax. Key benefits include pooling pensions with family, investing in commercial property, buying your own premises, and ring-fencing assets.
Where to next
Invest in commercial property through a SSAS
How directors buy property through a SSAS, including their own trading premises.
Reduce Corporation Tax with a SSAS
Use employer pension contributions to cut this year's Corporation Tax bill.
SSAS loanback calculator
See how much your SSAS could lend your business under HMRC rules.
What directors say about TLPI
"Complete confidence from the first conversation. My SSAS is funded and we are investing."
"They handled the HMRC approval and kept me updated at every step. Professional throughout."
"Set up a family trust for us to buy a commercial property. Efficient and professional."
Get personalised guidance on a SSAS
A free, no-obligation call with an HMRC registered scheme administrator.
Take control of your pension with a SSAS
Free, no-obligation call with an HMRC registered specialist.