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Income Tax

 

Income tax rates

   2012/13  2011/12
Basic rate band - income up to:  £34,370   £35,000
Starting rate for savings:  *10% *10% 
Basic rate  20% 20% 
Dividend ordinary rate  10% 10% 
     
Higher rate - income over:  £34,370  £35,000
Higher rate 40%   40%
Dividend upper rate 32.5%   32.5%
     
Additional rate - income over:  £150,000 £150,000 
Additional rate 50%  50% 
Dividend additional rate  42.5%  42.5%

*Starting rate is for savings income up to the starting rate limit of £2,710 (£2,560) within the basic rate band. The rate applies to any balance of the limit remaining after allocating taxable non-savings income.

 

Trusts

For interest in possession trusts on all income, and other trusts on the first £1,000 of income ("standard rate band"):

   Note  2012/13  2011/12
Dividend ordinary rate  5  10%  10%
Savings income  5  20%  20%
Other income  5  20%  20%
       
Income of other trusts above £1,000 is taxed at the special trust rates:   
Rate applicable to trusts    50%  50%
Dividend trust rate    42.5%  42.5%

 

Personal allowance (PA)

   Note  2012/13  2011/12
Under 65  1,4  £8,105 £7,475
65 to 74*  1,2,4  £10,500 £9,940 
75 and over*  1,2,4  £10,660 £10,090
Blind person's allowance    £2,100 £1,980

 

 
Married couple's allowance (MCA)

    Note  2012/13   2011/12
Either partner born before 6 April 1935 (relief restricted to 10%) 1,3,4 £7,705   £7,295 

 

Tax Shelters

   2012/13  2011/12
Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) up to £1,000,000  £500,000 
Venture Capital Trust (VCT) up to £200,000  £200,000 
Golden Handshake max. £30,000   £30,000
Rent a Room - exempt on gross annual rent up to £4,250   £4,250
Construction Industry Scheme deduction rate:    
Standard (registered)  20% 20% 
Higher (not registered)  30%  30%

 


Notes

1.Ages are as the end of the tax year. Ages for the MCA relate to the elder spouse or civil partner

2.The higher rates of personal allowances are reduced by £1 for each £2 of excess income over £25,400 (£24,000) until the basic allowance is reached.

3.Similar limits apply to the married couple's allowance. The reduction in allowance is subject to a minimum level of £2,960. (For couples married before 5 December 2005, only the husband's income is taken into account. For those married on or after 5 December 2005 or in a civil partnership, only the higher earner’s income is taken into account).

4.The personal allowance, including the minimum age-related allowance, is reduced by £1 for every £2 that net adjusted income exceeds £100,000.

5.Where there are several trusts created by the same settlor, the "standard rate band" is divided equally between them, subject to a minimum band of £200 for each trust.