Income Tax and Personal Savings

Income tax rates

 2011/122012/13
Basic rate band – income up to £35,000 £34.370
Starting rate for savings *10% *10%
Basic rate 20% 20%
Dividend ordinary rate 10% 10%
Higher rate - income over £35,000 £34,370
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.

Personal allowances (ages are as at the end of the tax year)

Personal allowances2011/122012/13
Personal allowances (PA) under 65 £7,475 £8,105
  65 to 74 £9,940 £10,500
  75 and over £10,090 £10.660


The personal allowance for those aged under 65 increases from 6 April 2011 to £7,475 and from 6 April 2012 to £8,105. The advantage to higher rate payers is countered by a lowering of the higher rate threshold, to £35,000 from 6 April 2011 and to £34,370 from 6 April 2012.

Married couple's allowance (MCA)
Either partner born before 6 April 1935 (relief restricted to 10%)
£7,295 £7.705

 

Tax Shelters  
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.
Back to the top of the page