Tax rates, allowances and amounts Tax-free income and allowances
Some income is tax-free – for instance, interest from cash Isas and certain National Savings & Investments (NS&I) products. You don't have to tell Revenue & Customs about tax-free income. For more details, see Tax on savings and investments.
There are two types of allowances:
- those that give full relief and allow you to earn a certain amount of money before paying tax, and
- those that give restricted relief, which reduce your tax bill by a tenth of their nominal value.
| Tax basics explained | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
| Basic rate income tax (20%) | £0-£37,400 (after allowances) | £0-£37,400 (after allowances) |
| Higher rate income tax (40%) | Over £37,400 | Over £37,400 |
| Additional rate income tax (50%) | N/A | Over £150,000 |
| Personal allowance (tax-free) | £6,475 | £6,475 (unless income above £100,000) |
| Income limit above which you start to lose personal allowance (at rate of £1 for each £2 you earn above limit) | N/A | £100,000 |
| Age-related personal allowance (65+) | £9,490 | £9,490 |
| Age-related personal allowance (75+) | £9,640 | £9,640 |
| Lower earnings limit (above which you start to lose age-related allowance) | £22,900 | £22,900 |
| 65+ Upper earnings limit (above which you receive no age-related allowance, just basic personal allowance) | £28,930 | £28,930 |
| 75+ Upper earnings limit (above which you receive no age-related allowance, just basic personal allowance) | £29,230 | £29,230 |
| Married couple’s allowance (MCA) 74-75 | N/A | N/A |
| Married couple’s allowance (MCA) 75+ only | £6,965 | £6,965 |
| Blind person's allowance | £1,890 | £1,890 |
| Capital gains tax (CGT) threshold | £10,100 | £10,100 |
| Inheritance tax threshold (IHT) | £325,000 | £325,000 |
Personal allowance
Most people are allowed to receive a certain amount of income in a tax year before tax is payable. This is known as the basic personal allowance, and is classed as a 'full relief' allowance. In 2010-11 the basic personal allowance for people under 65 is £6,475. If you earn above £100,000 it is progressively withdrawn, at the rate of £1 for every £2 above £100,000 you earn. This means that if you earn £112,950 you receive no personal allowance and all your income is taxed.
Personal allowances for older people
People aged 65 or over may get a higher amount, known as the age-related personal allowance.
Aged 65 to 74
For people aged 65 to 74, this can mean a personal allowance of £9,490 in 2010-11.
Aged 75 and over
People over 75 may get up to £9,640. However you are only entitled to the full amount of higher age-related allowance if your income during the 2010-11 tax year is £22,900 or less.
Income above £22,900 but below £100,000
If your income is above £22,900, you'll lose the higher allowance at the rate of £1 for every £2 that your income exceeds £22,900.
Above a certain level of income, you lose any higher allowance and get just basic personal allowance. For those over 65 this will happen at £28,930 in 2010-11 and for those over 75 at £29,230.
Income above £100,000
The reduction in basic personal allowance (by £1 for each £2 earned over the £100,000 limit) applies irrespective of age.
Example
For example, a 65-year-old with a total income of £24,100 (£1,200 over the limit) will therefore lose £600 from the higher allowance of £9,490, bringing it down to £8,890. For more details see Tax and allowances for older people.
Blind person's allowance
You may also be entitled to an additional allowance if you or your spouse or registered civil partner are blind or have severely impaired sight.
This is another full relief allowance as it is treated in the same way as the personal allowance, so increases the amount of income you can receive before you start to pay tax. In 2010-11 this allowance is £1,890.
In England and Wales
If you live in England or Wales, you will need to be certified as blind and appear on a local authority register of blind people to claim this allowance.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland
If you have not been certified as blind and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland you will qualify for the allowance if your eyesight is so bad that you are unable to perform any work where your eyesight is essential.
Unused balance
If your income is not enough to make use of the allowance, any unused balance can be transferred to your spouse or registered civil partner.
Married couples get certain tax breaks
Married couple's allowance
This used to be an allowance given to all married couples, but you now qualify for this allowance only if you or your husband, wife or registered civil partner were born before 6 April 1935.
Unlike the personal allowance, the married couple's allowance is not an amount you can earn before you start paying tax. Instead, it's a restricted relief allowance, which means you can't claim the whole amount. The tax you pay is reduced by deducting 10% of the allowance from your final tax bill.
For more on how being married,cohabiting or having a civil partner can affect your tax situation, see Tax and your partner.
Born before 1935
The married couple’s allowance for 2010-11 for people born before 6 April 1935 is £6,965. So if you receive the full married couple's allowance of £6,965 in 2010- 11, £696.50 will be taken off your tax bill (£6,965 x 10%).
Income above £22,900
The amount of married couple's allowance you receive may be reduced if your income is more than £22,900.
However if your income is above this limit, age-related personal allowance is reduced first, by £1 for every £2 'excess income', until it falls to the basic personal allowance of £6,475. If your income is above £100,000 your basic personal allowance is reduced at the same rate.
After this you lose married couple's allowance at a rate of £1 for each remaining £2 of 'excess income', until you reach minimum married couple's allowance of £2,670.
For more details see Tax and allowances for older people.
Maintenance relief
You can claim this relief for certain maintenance payments you make if you or your ex-spouse or registered civil partner were born before 6 April 1935 and you pay the maintenance under a legally binding agreement.
It works in a similar way to the married couple's allowance. Your tax bill will be reduced by 10% of the maintenance relief allowance or the amount you pay in maintenance, if that amount is lower.
In 2010-11 the maintenance relief allowance is £2,670, so if you are eligible to claim you'll be able to deduct £267 or 10% of the amount you pay in maintenance, if that's lower.
The Which? Essential Guide: Tax Handbook 2010/11 helps you navigate the red tape and secure the benefits you are entitled to.
