Pension drawdown: what is it - and does it come with tax implications?

Pension drawdown is a way of taking cash out of your pension pot and funding your lifestyle in retirement. But how does it work?

A person holds cash that they've got from pension drawdown (image: Getty Images)
Pension drawdown could be a useful strategy if you've got a defined contribution pension (image: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're heading towards retirement, you may be thinking about how best to access your pension pot.

Regardless of the type of pension you are savings into, pension drawdown offers one option for accessing the funds you've built up. It provides a way of accessing your pot flexibly, giving you the freedom to spend some of your money while leaving the rest invested. Though, it is important to shop around for the best drawdown deal.

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Henry Sandercock has spent more than eight years as a journalist covering a wide variety of beats. Having studied for an MA in journalism at the University of Kent, he started his career in the garden of England as a reporter for local TV channel KMTV.

Henry then worked at the BBC for three years as a radio producer - mostly on BBC Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine, but also on major BBC Radio 4 programmes like The World at One, PM and Broadcasting House. Switching to print media, he covered fresh foods for respected magazine The Grocer for two years.

After moving to NationalWorld.com - a national news site run by the publisher of The Scotsman and Yorkshire Post - Henry began reporting on the cost of living crisis, becoming the title’s money editor in early 2023. He covered everything from the energy crisis to scams, and inflation. He also has bylines in MoneyWeek.