Single v Married

gowayouttadat · 26-05-2011 8:24pm #1

Is there anywhere online I can work out the difference between the tax myself and the other half would pay at the moment (unmarried) and if we were to get married and go jointly assessed?

namenotavailablE · 26-05-2011 9:03pm

There are many online calculators. Try my spreadsheet (http://taxcalc.eu/monthlyss) or the Java form by Karl Grabe (http://taxcalc.eu)

gowayouttadat · 26-05-2011 9:10pm

Would you generally be expected to be taxed less as a married couple?

I just tried the Java link (don't have excel on my mac) and it comes up that we'd be better off unmarried. Not sure how that works.
If you tick the children box does that give you the one parent family tax allowance? We wouldn't be claiming that as we're not a one parent family.

namenotavailablE · 26-05-2011 9:19pm

Java should work on the Mac- strange.

Re your tax query, it depends mainly on the split of income. A married couple can share certain amount of cut- off point which might reduce total tax liability compared to 2 single persons.

namenotavailablE · 26-05-2011 9:22pm

Sorry- I didn't write the Java form so am unsure if the Lone parent credit is given if you tick the box. I think it is but not 100% sure.

gowayouttadat · 26-05-2011 9:32pm

Thanks.

Very simple split, basically 1 person earns approx 50k and one earns approx 25k, currently being taxed at single rate. Both only have personal tax credit.
1 kid but not claiming one parent allowance.

Just wondering if being married would make a difference. Struggling slightly at the moment with mortgage and childcare costs and looking to see where we could add a few extra euro into the equation.

namenotavailablE · 27-05-2011 9:36am

Based on that split, the higher earner would benefit from the increased standard rate cut off point (i.e. you would pay 41% tax on less of your gross).

A single person's standard rate cut-off point is currently €32800 [you should be currently getting that amount and your partner will be getting the amount of his/her income as it's below €32800] whereas if you are married, you can claim an additional €9000 against your income and your spouse could claim slightly less than at present (€23800 instead of €25000). The spreadsheet calculates the net benefit to be €1638 (on the split as described, you gain €1890, your partner loses €252).

However, caveat emptor-check with your accountant before going further!

Single v Married

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