Income Tax Rates and Allowances

Table A   Allowances and Reliefs

 

2013/14

2012/13

Allowed at top rate of tax

 

 

Personal Allowance (PA)

£9,440

£8,105

Personal Allowance (born 6.4.38 - 5.4.48)*

10,500

10,500

Personal Allowance (born before 6.4.38)*

10,660

10,660

Blind Person's Allowance

2,160

2,100

 

Allowed only at 10%

 

 

Married Couple's Allowance (MCA)*+

7,915

7,705

Income limit for age-related allowances

26,100

25,400

+ only available if born before 6th April 1935

*Age-related allowances are reduced £1 for every £2 by which income exceeds the income limit. PA is reduced before MCA, to a minimum of £9,440 (2012/13: £8,105). MCA is reduced to a minimum of £3,040 (2012/13: £2,960).

PA is withdrawn at £1 for every £2 by which total income exceeds £100,000. PA is reduced to nil if income is £118,880 or more (2012/13: £116,210).

Bands

2013/14

2012/13

Basic

32,010

34,370

Higher

32,011-150,000

34,371-150,000

Additional

over 150,000

over 150,000

Rates differ for General, Savings and Dividend income within each band:

Rates

2013/14

2012/13

 

G

S

D

G

S

D

Basic

20%

20%

10%

20%

20%

10%

Higher

40%

40%

32.5%

40%

40%

32.5%

Additional

45%

45%

37.5%

50%

50%

42.5%

General income (salary, pensions, profit, rent) uses starting, basic and higher rate bands before savings income (interest). Dividends are taxed as the ‘top slice’ of income.

If taxable general income is less than £2,790 (2012/13: £2,710), savings income is taxed at a ‘starting rate’ of 10% until total taxable income exceeds that limit. This ‘starting rate band’ is part of the BRB.

Table B   Pension Contributions

The maximum annual tax-efficient gross contributions (up to age 75) in 2013/14 are:

- individuals:

the higher of £3,600 or 100% of earnings, to max. £50,000

- employers:

£50,000 less employee contributions

Only current earnings count for the 100% limit. If less than £50,000 has been paid in any of the preceding three years, it may be possible to increase the current contributions by the shortfall. Maximum tax-efficient fund (lifetime allowance) where benefits are taken in 2013/14: £1.5m.

Table C   Car and Fuel Benefits

Car Benefit Assessment 2013/14

Charge based on a percentage of the initial list price of the car; the percentage depends on the carbon dioxide emission ratings of the car, if it has one. For older cars without a rating, the percentage depends on engine capacity.

For 2013/14 the percentage for a petrol engine is :

no emissions

no tax charge

Up to 75g/km

5%

76g/km-94g/km

10%

95g/km-99g/km

11%, then + 1% at 100g/km, 105g/km etc.

215g/km and above

35% (maximum)

Diesel cars have 3% added to the figure for a similarly-rated petrol car, but still have a maximum charge of 35%.

Car Fuel Assessment

The benefit is calculated using the same percentage as that used for the car benefit, applied to a standard figure of £21,100 (2012/13: £20,200).

The taxable amount is therefore between £1,055 (5% – min.) and £7,385 (35% – max.). There is no tax on charging an emission-free electric car.