Income Tax

Rates

Income tax applies to the amount of income after deduction of personal allowances.

Income is taxed in a specific order with savings and dividend income taxed last.

Dividend income and savings income falling within the dividend and savings allowances still form part of total income of an individual.

The starting rate band is only applicable to savings income. The 0% rate is not available if the taxable amount of non-savings income exceeds the starting rate band.

The Scottish Parliament set the rates of income tax and the limits at which these rates apply for Scottish residents on non-savings and non-dividend income.

Income tax is devolved to Wales on non-savings and non-dividend income. Welsh resident taxpayers continue to pay the same overall income tax rates using the UK rates and bands. The total rate of income tax = UK income tax + Welsh rate of income tax. Savings income and dividend income are taxed using UK tax rates and bands.

2025/26:

Type
Band of taxable income (£)
Rate (%)
Rate if dividends (%)
Basic rate
0 - 37,700
20
8.75
Higher rate
37,701 - 125,140
20
33.75
Additional rate
Over 125,140
20
39.35
For Scottish residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:
Type
Band of taxable income (£)
Rate (%)
Starter rate
0 - 2,827
19
Basic rate
2,828 - 14,921
20
Intermediate rate
14,992 - 31,092
21
Higher rate
31,093 - 62,430
42
Advanced rate
62,431 - 125,140
45
Top rate
Over 125,140
48
For Welsh residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:
Band of taxable income (£)
UK Rate (%)
Welsh Rate (%)
Overall Rate (%)
0 - 37,700
10
10
20
37,701 - 125,140
30
10
40
Over 125,140
35
10
45

Savings Allowance:

Band of taxpayer
Amount (£)
Rate (%)
Basic rate
1,000
0
Higher rate
500
0
Additional rate
0
N/A

There are special rates for savings and dividend income falling into above bands of taxable income.

Dividend Allowance:

Band of taxpayer
Amount (£)
Rate (%)
All
500
0

There are special rates for savings and dividend income falling into above bands of taxable income.

2024/25:

Type
Band of taxable income (£)
Rate (%)
Rate if dividends (%)
Basic rate
0 - 37,700
20
8.75
Higher rate
37,701 - 125,140
40
33.75
Additional rate
Over 125,140
45
39.35
For Scottish residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:
Type
Band of taxable income (£)
Rate (%)
Starter rate
0 - 2,306
19
Basic rate
2,307 - 13,991
20
Intermediate rate
13,992 - 31,092
21
Higher rate
31,093 - 62,430
42
Advanced rate
62,431 - 125,140
45
Top rate
Over 125,140
48
For Welsh residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:
Band of taxable income (£)
UK Rate (%)
Welsh Rate (%)
Overall Rate (%)
0 - 37,700
10
10
20
37,701 - 125,140
30
10
40
Over 125,140
35
10
45

Savings Allowance:

Band of taxpayer
Amount (£)
Rate (%)
Basic rate
1,000
0
Higher rate
500
0
Additional rate
0
N/A

There are special rates for savings and dividend income falling into above bands of taxable income.

Dividend Allowance:

Band of taxpayer
Amount (£)
Rate (%)
All
500
0

There are special rates for savings and dividend income falling into above bands of taxable income.

Allowances

A personal allowance gives an individual an annual amount of income free from income tax.

Income above the personal allowances is subject to income tax.

The personal allowance will be reduced if an individual’s ‘adjusted net income’ is above £100,000. The allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000.

An individual born before 6 April 1935 may be entitled to a married couple’s allowance but this is reduced if ‘adjusted net income’ is above the married couple’s allowance income limit (see table below).

Marriage allowance – 10% of the personal allowance may be transferable between certain spouses where neither pays tax above the basic rate. The Marriage allowance is not available to couples entitled to the Married Couple’s allowance.

Personal Allowance

Allowances
2025/26 (£)
2024/25 (£)
Personal allowance
12,570
12,570
Marriage allowance
1,260
1,260

Blind person’s allowance

£3,130 (2024/25: £3,070)

Married couple's allowance

Reduction in tax bill
2025/26 (£)
2024/25 (£)
Maximum
1,127
1,108
Minimum
436
428
Age allowance income limit*
37,700
37,000

Either partner born before 6th April 1935. Note: *Reduce married couples allowance by £1 for every £2 of 'adjusted net income' above this limit.