'Married couple £1000 tax break' being reported before 2015

datlex

longforgotten wrote: »

Hey, I'm married, and I'll take anything that's offered.....

If you chose not to get married that is your choice. !

It can be a case that people have not met someone who has wanted to marry them.

chrisbythesea

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I have already formally linked myself to Marley by virtue of declaring both incomes for a joint tax credit claim. Why should we need to be married for a different (small) tax refund? My point is that there shouldn't be different criteria - you are either a couple for tax purposes, or you aren't.

Tax credits aren't a tax refund they are a welfare benefit. You don't have to be a tax payer to get them.

LindaMary

I am married and in my fifties. I don't have children and my husband is semi retired and receiving a pension. He has a small part time job which takes him slightly over the current allowance. With us not having a family and myself not working at all will the tax break stii apply?

longforgotten

Datlex, I meant that a couple who love each other have a choice as to whether to get married or not. If either party do not wish to get married, knowing how much clearer in law your rights/benefits etc are, there must be a reason.

It may just be to be awkward and not conform, may not want to give up half of their worldly goods if things go pear shaped, don't think it'll last , just don't want to........there are many reasons. The easy route is to get married I think , if I was with someone who was not willing to marry me I would have grave doubts about our relationship.

It's the country we live in that marriage automatically gives you certain rights, its just the way it is. If you choose to opt out you know what the score is.

veryintrigued

anselld wrote: »

It will presumably allow up to £1000 of existing personal allowance to be transferred. Hence it will only benefit couples where one person does not currently use their personal allowance ( and only by £200).

So if both parties earn over £10k (ish) then you're scuppered then?

This policy is the only thing thats been keeping me and the OH together! And to now find out we're not applicable.

CLAPTON

datlex wrote: »

I think it is totally on fair on those of us who are unmarried and live on our own. We pay by far a bigger percentage of our income in tax compared to couples who live together already regardless of whether they are married or not. I'd love to see for once some support for those who live on their own. (the 25% council tax discount still means we pay more than each person in a couple pays).

do compare like for like; two people living in a property twice the size of yours would probably pay about the same council tax each as you do.

jacques_chirac

CLAPTON wrote: »

do compare like for like; two people living in a property twice the size of yours would probably pay about the same council tax each as you do.

It is you that is not comparing like for like - many couples live in smaller properties as they do not need more rooms than a single person does. Even if they have a slightly larger property because of the dual income, it is unlikely to be twice the size!

zagfles

jacques_chirac wrote: »

It is you that is not comparing like for like - many couples live in smaller properties as they do not need more rooms than a single person does. Even if they have a slightly larger property because of the dual income, it is unlikely to be twice the size!

Single people don't have to live alone. If people want the luxury of their own property, cooker, fridge etc, then why should they be subsidised, especially when property is in short supply.

I'd abolish the 25% council tax discount - why should someone who doesn't want to share not pay the full tax? If they have their own car they'd pay 100% of the road tax and fuel tax, if they bought a bottle of wine and didn't share it they'd pay 100% of the excise duty. Why should they get a discount for not sharing a property?

zagfles

LindaMary wrote: »

I am married and in my fifties. I don't have children and my husband is semi retired and receiving a pension. He has a small part time job which takes him slightly over the current allowance. With us not having a family and myself not working at all will the tax break stii apply?

Looks like it - I don't think you have to have children - but it's early days we'll have to wait for the details.

zagfles

chrisbythesea wrote: »

Tax credits aren't a tax refund they are a welfare benefit. You don't have to be a tax payer to get them.

But the point was it's a further complication in what constitutes a couple. Which I'd have to agree with, although I think it's a step in the right direction.