Income tax in Scotland

Income tax in Scotland is a tax of personal income gained through employment. This is a tax controlled by the Scottish Parliament, and collected by the UK government agency HM Revenue & Customs. As proposed in the Scottish 2018-19 budget, the Scottish income tax system will become significantly different from the rest of the United Kingdom.[1]

History

When the devolved Scottish Parliament was set up in 1999, the Scottish Parliament had the power to vary the rate of income tax by 3% (in either direction) from the rates applied in the rest of the UK. This power was specifically authorised by the second question of the 1997 devolution referendum. In any event, no Scottish Government ever chose to use the variable rate, and left tax rates the same as they were in the rest of the UK.

Following the passage of the Scotland Act 2012, the Scottish Parliament was given greater powers over income tax. In the 2016/17 tax year it had to set a Scottish Rate of Income Tax.[2] The idea of the power was that the UK tax rate would be reduced by 10%, with the block grant being reduced by an equivalent amount.[2] In 2016/17 the Scottish budget set the SRIT at 10%, which left tax rates at the same level as in the rest of the UK.[2]

The Scotland Act 2016 gave the Scottish Parliament full control over income tax rates and bands, except the personal allowance.[3] In 2017/18, the only notable difference between Scotland and the rest of the UK was that the higher rate limit was frozen in Scotland. In the draft budget for 2018/19, new rates and bands have been proposed.[1]


Tax rates and bands

2017-18

This tax year was the first in which the Scotland Act 2016 was in force; with the first differentiated tax on Scottish income since pre-Union times, although this was only a slight difference from the UK rates.

2017-18[4]
Rate Employment income Tax bracket (of income above tax-free allowance)
Basic rate 20% £0 - £31,500
Higher rate 40% £31,501 - £150,000
Additional rate 45% Above £150,000

2018-19

Pending parliamentary approval of the 2018-19 budget, the government's income tax plans are as follows:

2018-19[5]
Rate Income Tax Rate Gross Income
Starter rate 19% £11,850† - £13,850
Basic rate 20% £13,851 - £24,000
Intermediate rate 21% £24,001 - £43,430
Higher rate 41% £43,431 - £150,000††
Top rate 46% Above £150,000††

†Assumes individuals are in receipt of the Standard UK Personal Allowance.

††Those earning more than £100,000 will see their Personal Allowance reduced by £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000.

References

  1. 1 2 "Scottish income tax changes unveiled". BBC News. BBC. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, Scottish Government, St. Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Tel:0131 556 8400 (8 September 2015). "Scottish Rate of Income Tax". www.gov.scot.
  3. ↑ ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, Scottish Government, St. Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Tel:0131 556 8400 (13 December 2016). "Scottish Income tax 2017/18". www.gov.scot.
  4. ↑ "Income tax rates set". Scottish Government News.
  5. ↑ "Scottish Budget: draft budget 2018-2019". Scottish Government Publications.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.