Teachers’ AVC Quick Calculator (2026/27)

Plan your Teachers’ Pension

Stop guessing. Use our tools to project your income, calculate tax-free cash, and understand your options.

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Updated for the **2026/27 tax year**. Pay a little extra each month and see what it could grow to by retirement. AVC contributions are highly tax-efficient for teachers in the 20% and 40% brackets.

An Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) is an extra payment you can make into your pension on top of your normal Teachers’ Pension Scheme contributions. It builds a separate investment pot that belongs to you and can be used to boost your retirement income or increase your tax-free lump sum.

Most teachers set up AVCs via Prudential through their school’s payroll. Payments are taken from salary before tax, meaning you receive **tax relief straight away**. If you pay £100, it only feels like £80 (basic rate) or £60 (higher rate) has left your take-home pay.

Adjust the slider to see the impact of higher contributions.
A guess at the average yearly return of your pot.
How does this fit with your main pension?

AVCs are most effective when viewed alongside your Final Salary and CARE projections. Use our full simulator to see your total retirement income including your main TPS benefits.

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Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) FAQ

An AVC is an extra payment made on top of your normal TPS contributions. In 2026/27, it remains one of the best ways for teachers to boost their tax-free cash at retirement while getting 20% or 40% tax relief on every pound saved.

You can currently access your AVC from age 55. Important: If you are younger than 53 in April 2026, your minimum age will likely be 57 due to the legislative change on 6 April 2028.

No. Unlike the TPS, which is "Defined Benefit," an AVC is "Defined Contribution" (investment-based). Its value depends on market performance and provider charges. However, this flexibility allows it to be used more easily for tax-free cash.