Let me explain:
The new 50% rate was introduced by Alastair Darling in his 2009 Budget speech. As happens all the time now, the tax change did not take immediate effect. The first year’s taxable income to be affected was that for 2010/11 – the tax year that started on 6 April 2010 and ended on 5 April 2011.
The self employed and those living off rental or investment income pay their income tax in 3 instalments each year. When their tax liability increases it is only the final instalment that rises to reflect this. And for 2010/11 this tax will not be payable until 31 January 2012.
What about employees who pay tax through the PAYE system? Some of them also have yet to pay 50% tax. The Budget announcement in 2009 gave HMRC just a few months to establish systems to adapt PAYE codes. They were unable to do this for PAYE codes that employers used in 2010/11 where the individual had two or more employments. Instead HMRC added a note to their website for employees with income above £150,000:
What does this mean?"HMRC will work out how much tax you are actually due to pay when you send in your 2010-11 Self Assessment tax return. This may mean you'll owe some extra tax."
I think it means that any research into the impact of the 50% rate would be premature. Some wealthy taxpayers may have taken steps to reduce their liability to tax at 50%. Beyond that the majority may well be thinking that it hasn't had much impact on them (yet). And that's because, despite being announced in April 2009, only high earning employees with just one job have so far paid any tax at 50%.
There is also every chance of a further uproar when unrepresented high earning employees file their tax returns and find that they owe thousands of pounds in tax. Someone earning £250,000 across two jobs for example might owe £10,000 despite paying tax through the PAYE system on both employments.
Mark, I think you're partly wrong here. Quite a few people will have paid 50%.
ReplyDeleteThe legislation did collect 50% via PAYE from 6/4/10 where the taxable income was over £150,000.
The coding problem affects (mainly) people who get a second salary where the first one takes them past the £150,000 level. The second one 'should' therefore all be at 50% but HMRC only had code D0 available, so only 40% collected at source. From tomorrow we'll have code D1 and all will be well ...
Plus, many people will have had to take account of 2010/11 income rates when calculating payments on account in January 2011.
Sounds like a Daily Mail story waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. I've edited the post to clarify my comments. Fair point.
ReplyDeleteDavid
ReplyDeleteRe your final para, as I noted in the blog post, the increased tax will only be payable by the s/e etc as part of the balancing liability for 2010/11.
Mark, re last point. Agreed, but if income falling (but still expected over £150,000 for 10/11) then reduced payments on account calculations in January 2011 would have taken account of 50% rate - not uncommon in current market but perhaps not affecting many.
ReplyDeleteThat being said your point that the majority of self-employed, etc. haven't paid 50% tax yet valid.
50% Is such a scary tax rate, thank goodness that no one has paid such a high rate.
ReplyDeleteIs the rate likely to be applicable to many in the future?
A small percentage of the taxpaying population earn higher than £150k and will be subject to the 50% rate.
ReplyDelete