Income Tax Rates and Allowances
Table A Allowances and Reliefs
| 2012/13 | 2011/12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed at top rate of tax | ||
| Personal Allowance | £8,105 | £7,475 |
| Personal Allowance (65-74)* | 10,500 | 9,940 |
| Personal Allowance (75 and over)* | 10,660 | 10,090 |
| Blind Person's Allowance | 2,100 | 1,980 |
| Allowed only at 10% | ||
| Married Couple's Allowance (75 and over)*+ | 7,705 | 7,295 |
| Income limit for age-related allowances | 25,400 | 24,000 |
+ only available if born before 6th April 1935.
*Age-related allowances (AA) are reduced £1 for every £2 by which income exceeds the income limit, until the AA is reduced to the normal allowance. Personal allowance (PA) is reduced before married couple’s allowance. MCA is reduced to a minimum of £2,960 (2011/12: £2,800).
PA is withdrawn at £1 for every £2 by which total income exceeds £100,000. PA is reduced to nil if income is £116,210 or more (2011/12: £114,950).
| Bands | 2012/13 | 2011/12 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 34,370 | 35,000 |
| Higher | 34,371-150,000 | 35,001-150,000 |
| Additional | over 150,000 | over 150,000 |
Rates differ for General, Savings and Dividend income within each band:
| Rates | 2012/13 and 2011/12 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| G | S | D | |
| Basic | 20% | 20% | 10% |
| Higher | 40% | 40% | 32.5% |
| Additional | 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 £2,710 (2011/12: £2,560), 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 2012/13 are:
| - individuals: | £3,600 or 100% of earnings to £50,000 |
|---|---|
| - employers: | £50,000 less employee contributions |
Maximum tax-efficient fund (lifetime allowance) where benefits are taken in 2012/13: £1.5m.
Only current earnings count for the 100% limit. Extra contributions above £50,000 can use unused £50,000 limit of preceding three years.
Table C Car and Fuel Benefits
Car Benefit Assessment 2012/13
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 2012/13 the percentage for a petrol engine is :
| no emissions | no tax charge |
| Up to 75g/km | 5% |
| 76g/km-99g/km | 10% |
| 100g/km | 11%, then + 1% at 105g/km, 110g/km etc. |
| 220g/km | 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 £20,200 (2011/12: £18,800).
The taxable amount is therefore between £1,010 (5% – min.) and £7,070 (35% – max.). There is no tax on charging an emission-free electric car.