More boys than girls have pensions at young age - HMRC data

'Counter intuitive'

Tom Ellis
clock • 1 min read

Parents and grandparents are more likely to save into a pension for their sons than their daughters, according to data from the taxman.

The statistics, obtained by Hargreaves Lansdown from HM Revenue & Customs, showed that 20,000 boys aged under 16 had money paid into a pension for them in 2016/17, compared to 13,000 girls. Those who do not have any earnings can pay up to £2,880 per year into a pension and receive 20% tax relief, including children, and parents and grandparents can pay into a pension plan on behalf of youngsters. Hargreaves Lansdown senior analyst Nathan Long said: "Parents and grandparents are far more likely to save for boys than for girls, so the gender pension gap can start from birth. While women...

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