On the subject of tax rebates for pension contributions, the reason why the money from your earnings that you pay into your pension is getting tax relief, is that it will be taxable when you draw it out.
Pensions are often called "deferred pay" so you should only be taxed on it once.
This brings the added advantage that if you were paying, say, 20% or 40% tax when you were working, and have a small pension, you might pay a lower rate, or no tax at all, when you retire. This helps the worse-off members of society, which many of us consider to be a good thing.
if you are rich and have a large pension, however, you may continue to pay a higher rate when you retire, so you will no longer get that benefit, and you may conclude that the tax treatment of pensions has not been designed to help the rich any more.
If you believe that the purpose of pensions is to reduce the risk of old people living in poverty, you may consider that the tax regime does not need to be designed to help the rich.
If you are rich you may grumble about that, as is your right.
Pensions are often called "deferred pay" so you should only be taxed on it once.
This brings the added advantage that if you were paying, say, 20% or 40% tax when you were working, and have a small pension, you might pay a lower rate, or no tax at all, when you retire. This helps the worse-off members of society, which many of us consider to be a good thing.
if you are rich and have a large pension, however, you may continue to pay a higher rate when you retire, so you will no longer get that benefit, and you may conclude that the tax treatment of pensions has not been designed to help the rich any more.
If you believe that the purpose of pensions is to reduce the risk of old people living in poverty, you may consider that the tax regime does not need to be designed to help the rich.
If you are rich you may grumble about that, as is your right.