Budget 2005 Introduction Personal Taxation Employee Taxation Investment Reliefs Capital Gains Tax Trusts National Insurance Contributions Tax Credits Inheritance Tax Business Tax Corporation Tax Value Added Tax Stamp Duty Insurance Premium Tax

Personal Taxation Income tax and capital gains tax rates     2005/06 2004/05 Starting rate on first £2,090 £2,020 Basic rate on next 30,310 29,380 Higher rate on taxable income over 32,400 31,400   Rates differ for:    General Savings Dividend Starting 10% 10% 10% Basic 22% 20% 10% Higher 40% 40% 32.5%   Allocation of rate bands   Taxable income uses up the rate bands in the following order: * 'general income' (employment, business profits, rent) * 'savings income' (mainly interest) * 'dividends' (mainly distributions from companies) Capital gains (after annual exemption and taper relief, see Personal Taxation and Capital Gains Tax) are added to the total income as the 'top slice' and taxed at the rates applicable to savings income (10%, 20% or 40%).   Extension of basic rate band   A taxpayer who pays personal (including stakeholder) pension policy premiums, or gives cash to charity, increases the basic rate band by the grossed up equivalent of the payment. This means that more tax is paid at the basic rate and less is paid at the top rate.   Filing of return and payment   2005/06 personal tax return: due to be filed by 31 January 2007 * penalty for late return: £100 (or the tax due, if less) 2005/06 tax payable: * tax on employment income paid under PAYE each month * basic rate liability on savings and dividends usually settled by receiving the income net of tax paid or credited * balance of tax due under self assessment (SA): - payments on account due 31 January 2006 and 31 July 2006, based on the 2004/05 SA income tax and Class 4 NIC - balance, plus any CGT, due 31 January 2007, with the first payment on account for 2006/07 Missing any payment dates leads to interest; missing the balancing payment date by 28 days will lead to a 5% surcharge and a further 5% surcharge if not paid by following 31 July.   Main personal allowances     2005/06 2004/05   Personal income tax allowance £4,895 £4,745 CGT annual exemption 8,500 8,200 Blind person's allowance 1,610 1,560   Age allowances     2005/06 2004/05   Personal allowance (PA)     * Age 65 - 74 in the tax year £7,090 £6,830 * Age 75 and over in the tax year £7,220 £6,950 * Minimum* £4,895 £4,745 Married couple' allowance (MCA)**     * Age 65 - 74 £5,905 £5,725 * Age 75 and over £5,975 £5,795 * Minimum* £2,280 £2,210 Income Limit* £19,500 £18,900   * If the taxpayer's total income exceeds the income limit (extended for gift aid and pension contributions), one-half of that excess is deducted from the allowances - first from the PA until the minimum is reached, then from the MCA until the minimum is reached. ** Amount depends on age of older spouse; allowed at 10%; nil if born after 5 April 1935; reduced if marriage took place during the tax year.   Main personal reliefs   Rent-a-room exemption for letting out part of the taxpayer's only or main residence: gross income of £4,250pa Gift aid: on a cash gift to charity, the charity can reclaim 22/78 (28.2%) of the donation from the Inland Revenue if the donor makes a declaration. The donor increases the basic rate band by the gross gift (100/78). The market value of gifts of land or quoted shares can be deducted from taxable income for full tax relief, and the charity pays no tax on the gift received.