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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.    
Trusts    
For interest in possession trusts on all income, and other trusts on the first £1,000 of income ("standard rate band"):    
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:    
rate applicable to trusts   40% 40%
dividend trust rate   32.5% 32.5%
Allowances that reduce taxable income    
Personal allowance (PA) under 65 1 £6,475 £6,035
  65 to 74* 1,3 £9,490 £9,030
  75 and over* 1,3 £9,640 £9,180
  minimum   £6,475 £6,035
  Blind person's allowance   £1,890 £1,800
Allowances that reduce tax    
Married couple's allowance (MCA)      
Tax reduction 74* 1,2,3 n/a £653.50
  75 and over* 1,2,3 £696.50 £662.50
  minimum   £267 £254
* The age-related allowances are progressively withdrawn if income exceeds £22,900 £21,800
Tax Shelters    
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:    
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 of spouse or civil partner
  2. MCA is available only to those couples where at least one spouse or civil partner was born before 6 April 1935.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.