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Income Tax
Tax rates |
Note |
2009/10 |
2008/09 |
Starting rate limit* |
£2,440 |
£2,320 |
Tax rate* |
10% |
10% |
Basic rate band |
£37,400 |
£34,800 |
Basic rate |
20% |
20% |
Savings rate |
20% |
20% |
Dividend ordinary rate |
10% |
10% |
Higher rate - taxable income over |
£37,400 |
£34,800 |
Higher tax rate |
40% |
40% |
Dividend upper rate |
32.5% |
32.5% |
* Where taxable non-savings income does not fully occupy the starting rate limit, the remainder of the limit is available for savings income at the 10% starting rate. |
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Trusts |
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For interest in possession trusts on all income, and other trusts on the first £1,000 of income ("standard rate band"): |
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dividend ordinary rate |
4 |
10% |
10% |
savings income |
4 |
20% |
20% |
other income |
4 |
20% |
20% |
Income of other trusts above £1,000 is taxed at the special trust rates: |
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rate applicable to trusts |
|
40% |
40% |
dividend trust rate |
|
32.5% |
32.5% |
Allowances that reduce taxable income |
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Personal allowance (PA) |
under 65 |
1 |
£6,475 |
£6,035 |
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65 to 74* |
1,3 |
£9,490 |
£9,030 |
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75 and over* |
1,3 |
£9,640 |
£9,180 |
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minimum |
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£6,475 |
£6,035 |
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Blind person's allowance |
|
£1,890 |
£1,800 |
Allowances that reduce tax |
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Married couple's allowance (MCA) |
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Tax reduction |
74* |
1,2,3 |
n/a |
£653.50 |
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75 and over* |
1,2,3 |
£696.50 |
£662.50 |
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minimum |
|
£267 |
£254 |
* The age-related allowances are progressively withdrawn if income exceeds |
£22,900 |
£21,800 |
Tax Shelters |
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Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) up to |
£500,000 |
£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: |
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Standard (registered) |
20% |
20% |
Higher (not registered) |
30% |
30% |
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Notes
- Ages are as the end of the tax year. Ages for the MCA relate to the elder of spouse or civil partner
- MCA is available only to those couples where at least one spouse or civil partner was born before 6 April 1935.
- The higher rates of personal allowances are reduced by £1 for each £2 of excess income over £22,900 (2008/09 £21,800) until the basic allowance is reached. Similar limits apply to the married couple's allowance: the loss of tax reduction is 10p for each £2 of excess income until the minimum of £267 (2008/09 £254) is reached. (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).
- 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.
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