Topic 1: Introduction to income tax Flashcards
What examples are there of different types of income that are exempt from income tax?
1) National savings certificate income
2) Income from ISAs
3) Betting / lotteries / premium bonds etc.
4) Scholarships
5) Some social security such as housing benefit
6) Income tax repayment interest
How much does the starting rate for savings income go up to, what % is it and when is it applicable?
It is £5000, 0% and is applicable when an individual has
What happens to savings income 0% rates for basic and higher rate tax payers?
For basic rate tax payers, there is £1000 taxed at 0%
For additional rate tax payers, there is £500 taxed at 0%
Which band to apply is chosen by looking at their taxable income (ignoring this nil rate band thing)
An individual could have both the £5k thing (or some of it) and one of these potentially depending on their mix of income amounts
What is the tax year for individuals?
6th April - 5th April
What is the tax year for companies?
1st April - 31st March
With regards to dividends…. all individuals….
regardless of income are allowed a £2000 nil rate on dividends
After the dividend nil rate, what are the % rates for dividends?
7.5%, 32.5% and 38.1%
How do you work out the gross donation a charity received via gift aid from someone’s net donation?
net x (100/80) - this then basically assumes that everyone is a basic rate (20%) taxpayer (as you have to be a taxpayer to claim gift aid). But what about higher and additional rate tax payers - they arguably have got charged 40% or even 45% on the money they are gifting already.
What happens when higher or additional rate taxpayers donate with gift aid?
The basic rate upper limit becomes £37500 + gross donation and the higher rate upper limit becomes £150000 + gross donation
If you want to carry back donated gift aid money in to your 2018/19 tax return even though you donated it in 2019/20 then when is the deadline for saying you want to do this?
When you file your 2018/19 tax return (latest deadline would be 31 Jan 2020)
How does the marriage allowance work?
Well it DOES NOT increase your personal allowance, you just deduct part (£1250) of the transferor’s personal allowance and you can then take 20% of that (£250) off the transferee’s tax liability. The transferor has to be basic or non taxpayer and the transferee has to be a basic tax payer
What is meant by a ‘receipts basis’ of assessment of employment income?
It means that it is assessed in the tax year that you receive it in
What does ‘taxable earnings’ mean?
Earnings that are taxable, IT IS THE AMOUNT PRIOR TO THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCE BEING TAKEN OFF
What are the 2 general rules for taxable benefits?
Always time apportion benefits if only available for part of the tax year.
Always deduct employee contribution (apart from private fuel)
When is living accommodation provided by an employer tax exempt?
When it is job related and one of:
Necessary, customary or security
If I got given say Tesco vouchers from my employer, what is the taxable value of that benefit?
The cost of the voucher to the employer
For a director, what extra details are there to whether their provided for accommodation is tax exempt or not?
They can only claim necessary accommodation or customary accommodation if:
They own less or equal to 5% of the company AND either:
- They work full-time OR the company is non-profit making / a charity
If living accommodation is not tax exempt then how is the value worked out?
- Normally it is the higher of the rental value (if applicable) or the ‘annual value’
- IF it is expensive (cost > £75K) then you do the following sum:
Official rate of interest at start of tax year x (cost - 75k)
This ‘cost’ is the original cost + any capital improvements BEFORE the start of the tax year
When should you use market value instead of original cost when working out accommodation benefit value?
If >6 years have elapsed when employee moves in since it was purchased
How do you work out the benefit of a car for PRIVATE USE?
List price x emissions %
List price includes optional accessories provided with the car and further accessories £100 or more provided later on.
Emissions % thing is in tables
Employee contributions reduces benefit
TIME APPORTION BENEFIT
Covers all running costs except fuel
How is fuel benefit worked out?
Basic figure (£24,100) x the car benefit.
NO reduction for partial contribution
TIME APPORTION BENEFIT
What is a key difference between vans and cars tax wise (apart from what is in the tables?)
Private use DOES NOT include home to work travel for vans but it is included for cars.
Both time apportion benefit
Employee contribution reduces benefit (like cars)
There is a fixed benefit amount, unlike cars where it is the list price.
How do you work out the annual value of a non house/car asset? like a tv
20% of market value OR how much the company rents it for
time apportion
employee contribution reduces benefit
if private use is insignificant then no taxable benefit
how do you work out the value of intangible benefits - such as a school place?
cost to employer less employee contributions
in-house benefit = marginal cost to employer