Pensions are an incredibly tax efficient way of saving for our future. We know that regular contributions, the tax relief boost and long-term investment performance can super-charge your planning. However, what many people don’t realise is that you can also take steps to boost other people’s retirements as well.

In a recent survey by Hargreaves Lansdown, only about one third of people knew you could contribute to a loved one’s pension. Higher earners tended to be much more aware, with well over three-quarters of additional rate taxpayers saying they knew about the rule. This compares to 61% of higher rate taxpayers and 29% of those paying basic rate tax.

According to the rules, you can pay up to £2,880 per year into the SIPP of a non-working spouse. Even though they are not working, so not paying tax, they will still get a tax relief top up from government taking it up to £3,600.

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It’s a powerful way to improve the retirement planning of a loved one who is taking time out of the workforce to care for children or other loved ones and can go a long way towards closing the gender pension gap that continues to yawn widely.

You can also make payments to your partner’s pension even if they are working, as long as total contributions do not exceed their annual allowance. It’s a great way to make the most of any spare cash you have if you have made the most of your own pension allowances.

Husband and wife looking over bills and using laptop in domestic kitchen · MoMo Productions via Getty Images

The rule can be expanded even further than that of a spouse or partner. You can also contribute to the pension of a child through a Junior SIPP and get their retirement planning off to a flying start. As with a non-working spouse, you can contribute up to £2,880 per year to a Junior SIPP and they will receive the government tax relief top up to £3,600.

Even small contributions will make a difference. Combined with tax relief and long-term investment growth, these contributions can grow and give your child a real leg up the retirement planning ladder.

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Making contributions of the full £3,600 per year could see them with a pension pot of £104,000 by the time they are 18. This puts them well ahead of their peers who are yet to be auto-enrolled. Overall, this early planning could leave them in a much better position.

A Junior SIPP can also be a great way of starting your child’s financial education journey. You can show them how their SIPP is growing over time and the companies they are invested in. It can really help them get to grips with investment and start a lifelong habit that could serve them very well.