Almost seven million UK adults — around one in eight — have never checked their State Pension forecast, according to new research from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Adults aged 45 to 54 are more likely than any other age group to have never looked, despite this being a crucial time for planning retirement.

With Pension Awareness Week running from 15 to 18 September 2026, HMRC is encouraging people of all ages to download and use its free, secure HMRC app and visit the Tax Confident website to help them prepare for retirement and understand what to expect.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said: "It's never too early, or too late, to check your State Pension forecast. Checking your forecast on the HMRC app takes just a few minutes but can make a real difference to how prepared you feel for the future.

"Whether retirement is decades away or just around the corner, I'd encourage everyone to check their forecast and see if there's anything they can do now to boost their entitlement later."

The survey of 5,206 consumers, conducted between 27 February and 12 March 2026, also found that almost a third of people have already checked their State Pension online or via the HMRC app, giving them a clearer picture of what to expect in retirement. Common reasons for delaying include feeling retirement is too far away to think about (26%), worries about losing track of pension pots from previous jobs (24%), and concerns about how career breaks might affect entitlement (20%). Some people say they simply do not know how to check their State Pension (9.5%) or think it would be too complicated (5%), while 17% only consider their pension at major financial moments, such as the start of a new tax year.

Through the HMRC app, users can view their State Pension forecast, identify any gaps in their National Insurance record and, if eligible, top up contributions. The app also shows a user's tax code, PAYE details, employment history and Self Assessment record, helping to build a fuller financial picture ahead of retirement.

HMRC's Tax Confident website provides straightforward guidance on tax in retirement, including how the State Pension counts as taxable income, managing tax while working and receiving a pension, and understanding savings, investments and inheritance tax.

HMRC's research indicates that 12.5% of UK adults have never checked their State Pension forecast — equivalent to approximately 6.9 million people, based on an adult population of 55,022,253. The HMRC app is free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, where it currently holds ratings of 4.8 and 4.6 stars respectively.