FT readers count on to get pleasure from increased payouts this bonus season, however complain they’re having to work tougher for his or her bonuses as tax will increase chunk and efficiency metrics alter.
Greater than 1,000 readers supplied detailed responses to our annual bonus survey, with simply over half saying they anticipated an even bigger or considerably larger payout than final yr.
These working in banking and funding banking had been almost certainly to report “substantial” will increase as UK and US banks scrapped the EU bonus cap, enabling payouts of as much as 25 occasions fundamental wage at some establishments.
Excessive flyers within the authorized occupation and asset administration sector additionally reported massive will increase, however the two worst performing sectors had been power and administration consultancy, with the best numbers of respondents reporting bonuses price “considerably much less” than final yr.
Round one in 10 respondents stated the metrics used to measure their efficiency had modified this yr — the bulk in banking. Some complained that “mounted pay inertia” had set in, so whereas their bonus had risen, total compensation packages had been pretty flat.
Readers’ detailed responses additionally expressed uncertainty about pay and efficiency within the yr forward. Will we see a blockbuster yr of M&A as President Trump’s re-election stokes animal spirits and bonus caps are lifted? Or will a worldwide commerce struggle and tax modifications within the UK Price range crush any prospect of a bumper payout subsequent yr?
Most readers who accomplished our survey in 2025 anticipated fatter payouts than final yr, with 15 per cent in line for a bonus of between £250,000 and £2mn, in contrast with 10 per cent in our 2024 ballot.
One in 5 respondents stated they anticipated a bonus of between £100,000 and £250,000, up from one in eight final yr. This yr’s pattern measurement was admittedly smaller, however of their detailed responses, many readers stated that whereas bonuses had elevated, so had the usage of deferral mechanisms (see under).
Removed from feeling richer, a temper of warning prevailed in readers’ detailed feedback as bonus payouts struggled to maintain tempo with elevated residing prices together with VAT on college charges and better mortgage charges.
In whole, 14 per cent of readers stated they supposed to spend most of their bonus — a two share level uptick on final yr — and 17 per cent supposed to make use of their bonus to pay down debt, assuming they had been nonetheless in line to obtain a payout.
“I want I’d paid off my mortgage earlier as an alternative of shopping for a ship,” regretted one retail govt, who stated his bonus had been cancelled this yr after weaker gross sales and better prices ensuing from Price range modifications to employer’s national insurance.
Almost one in three readers stated October’s Price range had influenced how they’d deploy their bonus cash this yr, with January’s will increase to private school fees upsetting essentially the most ire.
One reader in monetary companies stated he was setting apart his whole £50,000 bonus to handle the “spiteful imposition” of VAT on college charges, predicting this could hit UK financial exercise: “I do know that many different mother and father are doing the identical as me and spending far, far much less on different objects, so many companies shall be feeling the pinch.”
“I now have to earn considerably greater than final yr to cowl VAT on college charges and mortgage prices, that are all rising,” stated one reader within the oil and fuel sector, who expects a considerably decreased bonus this yr.
It wasn’t simply mother and father who stated the Price range had made them extra cautious with their bonus cash. “Spending much less and saving extra” was the second mostly expressed response in our ballot, with causes cited together with fears of redundancy, plus the chance of additional tax rises and the UK economic system weakening additional.
“About 80 per cent of my peer group (male, aged 50+) have been let go lately, so I’m considerably hesitant in spending the bonus I acquired,” stated one banker anticipating a payout of greater than £100,000. “I’d fairly save or make investments it to organize for the inevitable.”
Of those that had been meaning to spend nearly all of their bonus cash, one in 5 stated they’d use the money to pay down a piece of their mortgage, and a handful of high-earning youthful respondents stated they supposed to clear their scholar loans early. It is a far cry from the exuberance generally related to bonus season.
“Final yr, I purchased an aeroplane (gentle sport plane) however crashed it after three months. I’ll make investments my bonus this yr,” vowed one asset supervisor anticipating a payout of between £50,000 and £100,000.
Regardless of the gloomy sentiments, this yr has seen a 5 share level swing again in favour of investing nearly all of any bonus — essentially the most tax-efficient use of the money.
Probably the most noticeable bounce was the elevated attractiveness of stocks-and-shares Isas, with 55 per cent of this yr’s respondents saying all or a part of their bonus was destined for the tax-free funding accounts, in contrast with 33 per cent a yr in the past.
“Isas seem essentially the most tax-efficient vessel, with fewest rumours of basic change,” stated one banker anticipating a payout of over £100,000.
Readers’ detailed feedback confirmed that many have actively determined to deprioritise pension saving after inheritance tax modifications had been introduced final yr — the fifth commonest response to the Price range query — even when they’ve but to earn sufficient to be affected by the annual allowance taper, which reduces tax-free pension contributions to only £10,000 a yr for the best earners.
“I’m deprioritising my pension, as I now absolutely count on the principles to be modified sooner or later and have misplaced belief within the system,” stated one hedge fund supervisor anticipating a bonus of over £100,000.
“Usually I might put a piece of my bonus into my pension, however the tax guidelines preserve altering and I’m moderately assured that earlier than I retire they are going to be so detrimental to anybody with a pension pot price having that there’s little level committing to it any extra,” stated a dealer anticipating a payout of over £100,000.
Nimesh Shah, chief govt of Blick Rothenberg, an accountancy agency, says he has seen fewer shoppers opting to “pension their complete bonus” this yr, with many additionally looking for to max out Isas for themselves, their accomplice and their youngsters. Though Isas don’t have any upfront tax aid, future tax-free withdrawals and better flexibility over when funds may be taken have boosted their attraction.
“Below-50s in impact get a £21,000 Isa allowance, as they obtain a £1,000 authorities bonus in the event that they make investments £4,000 right into a Lifetime Isa,” he says. You need to be below 40 to open a Lifetime Isa, however can preserve paying into it for 10 extra years, though the funds are usually not accessible with out penalty till age 60.
Nonetheless, one group of survey respondents felt that they had no selection however to pay extra of their wage and bonus cash into pensions — these caught by the so-called six-figure wage entice.
Readers generally reported utilizing wage sacrifice schemes to spice up office pension contributions and cut back their taxable pay under £100,000 on paper. This manner, they keep away from excessive marginal charges of tax on the slice of revenue between £100,000 and £125,140 as the non-public allowance is clawed again, and may retain helpful childcare advantages together with “free” nursery hours and tax-free childcare that will be misplaced if one dad or mum earned greater than £100,000.
“Paying right into a pension is de facto the one possibility for me,” stated one reader working in insurance coverage anticipating a bonus of as much as £50,000. “If I didn’t, my bonus could be topic to tax and nationwide insurance coverage at 62 per cent, plus I might lose my daughter’s nursery hours. I might love to make use of this cash to assist pay increased mortgage funds and ever-increasing nursery charges, however the maths doesn’t work.”
A sentiment generally expressed amongst FT readers was to maintain maximising tax allowances earlier than the federal government additional reduces them. Many feared the enlarged pensions annual allowance of £60,000 would be the subsequent for the chop.
“I’m feminine, in my 30s with out youngsters (however I’ll have them finally) so I’m making an attempt to place 30-40 per cent of my whole pre-tax earnings into pensions, together with my bonus,” commented one reader in tech anticipating a £10,000 payout. “If in future I want to chop down on pension contributions on account of the price of having youngsters, I can achieve this simply figuring out that I’ve front-loaded a number of the trouble of saving for retirement, and could have over thirty years for compounding magic to happen.”
This yr’s survey additionally confirmed one in three readers supposed to speculate a few of their bonus cash into normal funding accounts (GIAs), in comparison with only one in 5 final yr.
Of their extra detailed feedback, loads of readers famous the attractiveness of buying gilts inside a normal funding account. Whereas revenue is taxable, no capital beneficial properties tax applies to funding progress, that means bonds buying and selling under their face worth can ship tax-free returns for buyers who redeem at maturity or promote above the acquisition value.
This yr’s ballot additionally instructed readers have a better urge for food for danger, with an uptick in these planning to make use of enterprise capital trusts (VCTs) and Enterprise Funding Schemes (EIS) to make long-term investments into smaller UK corporations, attracted by upfront tax aid of 30 per cent.
Adam Walkom, co-founder of Everlasting Wealth Capital, a monetary planner, says that whereas shoppers had been intrigued by the tax advantages, they had been cautious of the chance that smaller UK corporations may take an outsized hit in an financial slowdown.
“The benefit of a VCT is that it’s a pooled strategy, so that you would possibly personal one VCT fund which has say 30 of those explicit sort of corporations,” he says. “Nonetheless, once you evaluate the funding expenses to straightforward index funds, they give the impression of being horrific. VCT funds generally have annual charges someplace between one and two per cent; there’s 1 per cent dealing expenses, and you may must pay an exit charge of 5 per cent to get out, which must be considered.”
Regardless of the dearth of tax benefits, the proportion of readers who deliberate to speculate a few of their bonus cash into cryptocurrencies has almost doubled in a yr, at 6 per cent, as President Trump vows to make the US the “crypto capital of the planet”.
“A bullish yr for crypto, so I’ll make investments my bonus in that together with my Nasdaq and S&P trackers,” stated one UK-based recruitment guide, including that the eventual capital beneficial properties hit on crypto had not put him off.
On the different finish of the chance spectrum, many readers confessed they had been in “mortgage pay down mode” this bonus season, as fixed-rate offers expire, and rates of interest look set to stay increased for longer.
“Mortgage discount is the one sport on the town,” stated one reader in asset administration whose five-year repair has one yr left to run. They intend to sink their whole £100,000 bonus into this (notice that after extra price revenue tax and Nationwide Insurance coverage, this shall be decreased to £53,000).
“I’m utilizing my bonus to pay down the mortgage to cut back the volatility arising from the variability in revenue, which is a continuing concern for most individuals within the monetary business,” commented a dealer who expects to obtain a bonus of over £50,000.
“Metropolis staff could possibly be on a pleasant bundle of £300,000 however once you take a look at their web disposable revenue after tax, mortgage funds and better charges for a few youngsters at non-public college, there’s usually not an terrible lot left,” says Adrian Anderson, managing director of mortgage dealer Anderson Harris.
He stated excessive earners on interest-only mortgages had been essentially the most uncovered to “cost shock”. Within the days of rock-bottom charges, many purchasers considered interest-only loans as “paying an inexpensive ‘hire’ secured in opposition to an asset that was going up in worth.” Mortgage charges have shot up for the reason that pandemic, however prime central London property values haven’t, therefore extra shoppers are utilizing bonuses to pay down debt and cut back month-to-month repayments.
An underlying sentiment expressed in readers’ detailed feedback was the will to promote up within the UK and transfer someplace hotter with decrease tax charges — and older readers with massive pensions weren’t the one ones.
“I’m saving my bonus with a view to leaving the UK within the subsequent 5 years,” stated one reader working in enterprise capital, who expects a bonus of as much as £50,000. “As an EU citizen from a rustic the place there are good jobs and considerably decrease prices of elevating youngsters, it makes me extra aggravated at tax modifications. If the tax surroundings was completely different I might purchase an even bigger residence right here and be blissful to remain indefinitely.”
The altering form of incentive pay
This yr’s survey reveals that the lifting of the EU-era bonus cap has allowed banks to reward their high expertise with bumper payouts, writes Jamie John.
The perfect performers at US banks within the UK have acquired uplifts of 40 to 45 per cent, says Matt Nicholson, head of Europe at recruiter Selby Jennings, who says the “greatest shift out there” has been a push by funding banks to compete with buy-side corporations on pay. “Family-name banks are actually wanting on the hedge fund world as their competitors,” he stated. “The bonuses there are severely good”.
Nonetheless, there are massive disparities between the very high performers, who can earn huge sums in incentive pay, and those that fall in need of these lofty heights. Many readers advised us they felt short-changed by their employers, expressing frustration that base salaries had stagnated whereas the proportion of deferred bonuses had risen, that means that staff might want to lock in with their present employer for longer to entry the cash steadily.
“I’ve been right here for 15 years and have by no means seen individuals so offended, in any respect ranges,” stated one banker, who added that every one however the highest income turbines had been anticipating solely single-digit bonus rises in share phrases — “not precisely inflation crushing”. So-called “materials danger takers” on the agency, nevertheless, may theoretically earn a bonus of as much as 25 occasions base pay.
Not all is properly on the buy-side, although. Asset and wealth managers bemoaned an absence of transparency in the way in which bonus funds had been calculated, with one complaining his employer had adopted a brand new “efficiency ranking (learn: administration’s whims)”.
Bonuses “have a tendency now not to be pushed by one revenue metric”, explains David Ellis, head of strategic reward advisory at accountancy group BDO. Firms have as an alternative come to rely on a broader vary of efficiency measures corresponding to buyer satisfaction, that means that whereas whole bonus swimming pools might need elevated in keeping with income, the rise “has not been shared between members on a pro-rata foundation”.
Wanting ahead, Andrew Patterson, accomplice at Clifford Probability, a regulation agency, expects prospects for UK-based bankers will proceed to learn from the lifting of the bonus cap and an additional simplification of guidelines on bankers’ pay anticipated later this yr. The Prudential Regulation Authority has proposed the discount of deferral intervals and permitting bankers to earn dividends on share-based bonuses whereas they’re deferred. Patterson thinks the modifications will collectively put “UK on a extra even footing with key world monetary centres outdoors the EU” serving to to “appeal to and retain high expertise”.
All illustrations by Jamie Portch
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