How does tax work when taking a private pension?

[Sherlockdee]

I recently turned 55 and in addition to the pension I'll use in retirement, I have a small pension pot (<50k) which I'd like to withdraw from over the next 5 years.
I've already had the 25% tax free sum. But now I'm wondering how do further withdrawals work? Is it taxed at source and then I claim it back? I only earn about 5k right now as very part time, so I'd plan to make up the balance of my 12k personal allowance with withdrawals from the pension pot (I have not and don't intend to buy an annuity with it).
Anyone else doing similar and can advise? Thank you

If you do regular withdrawals it works just like a salary. Your pension provider is issued with your tax code and you receive the correct net amount. Lump sums will probably have 20% tax deducted, sometimes they will refund it straight away but mostly it will be after the end of the tax year. If you have monthly withdrawals set up and want an additional lump sum, don't request it until you have received your May payment or you will pay tax as if you are getting that amount every month then you have to put a claim in to have it adjusted.

If you tell HMRC how much regular pension you'll be getting and how much your regular wage will be, they can share your personal allowance between both via your PAYE tax code.

If you don't tell them, they'll work it out eventually from the submissions made by your employer and pension provider, but in the meantime you could end up having the wrong tax deducted (probably too much), which takes time to get rectified.

Thank you, so basically if I want to take out, say 7k, to keep my total earnings under the personal allowance threshold, I should take it out in March before end of tax year. Then submit my tax return early as possible (I'm self employed so do annual tax return anyway)?

Will the pension provider deduct tax before paying me, then I can claim it back in my return?