Budget 2021: Million more set to pay income tax by 2026

Autumn Budget 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that the threshold at which the tax starts being paid will be frozen until 2026 after a rise this April. It means getting a pay rise could pull people into a higher rate of tax. Commentators have called it an increase in an individual's tax burden "by stealth". The chancellor said that he wanted to be honest with the British public about the way in which money would be raised to pay for support schemes during the coronavirus pandemic. At present, people start paying 20% income tax when they earn £12,500 a year, known as the personal allowance.

How to build your personal credit

The first £12,500 they earn is tax-free with the 20% rate only being charged on everything they earn above that amount, up to the higher rate tax threshold. The starting point for paying the higher 40% rate is £50,001. These thresholds will go up to £12,570 and £50,270 in April, but will then be frozen until April 2026.


The Office for Budget Responsibility, the government's official but independent forecaster, said this policy would bring 1.3 million more people into paying income tax and one million more into paying at the higher rate.


This is known as fiscal drag. While the Scottish government has the ability to vary tax rates and bands under its devolved powers, the tax free personal allowance threshold is set by the chancellor and applies to the whole of the UK.

18 May, 2022
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