Marriage - how to be assessed?

chases0102

Hi folks,

Just wondering if anyone could help me out.

My OH and I got married back in June - we need to change our status for Revenue. We are expecting a baby in March, and she will be going on unpaid leave.

I believe that I could then assume some of her tax credits when this happens?

However, as with lots of things in relation to Revenue, I'm very wary of what to click when I go to change something.

We earn similar wages, I am on slightly higher, and both PAYE.

Should we be jointly assessed, in this regard? It also prompts me to put in different information, which I am not sure about (such as how much tax credits are assigend, who is the nominated assessable, spouse, etc.)

Just wondering if anyone could simplify what options to input.

Hope that all makes sense, no doubt I have made it more complicated than it sounds!

Thanks

chases0102

Hi all - anybody have any advice on this?

According to website, there are four options for joint assessment. Nervous about which one to choose

michellie

When I was going on maternity leave in March 2018 I rang revenue and they advised me to leave it be as maternity benefit is taxable, I did get a nice tax refund in January 2019 though.

Maybe call them and see how it'll work. Congrats on the baby

relax carry on

chases0102 wrote: »

Hi folks,

Just wondering if anyone could help me out.

My OH and I got married back in June - we need to change our status for Revenue. We are expecting a baby in March, and she will be going on unpaid leave.

I believe that I could then assume some of her tax credits when this happens?

However, as with lots of things in relation to Revenue, I'm very wary of what to click when I go to change something.

We earn similar wages, I am on slightly higher, and both PAYE.

Should we be jointly assessed, in this regard? It also prompts me to put in different information, which I am not sure about (such as how much tax credits are assigend, who is the nominated assessable, spouse, etc.)

Just wondering if anyone could simplify what options to input.

Hope that all makes sense, no doubt I have made it more complicated than it sounds!

Thanks

Joint assessment and separate assessment are essentially the same thing. In joint assessment cases one spouse opts to be the assessable spouse (usually the higher earner) and transferable credits/rate band are available to be moved between spouses during the tax year if they want. In a separate assessment case everything is split 50/50 and the transfers take place at the end of the tax year by means of a review. In both cases depending on earnings there may be a benefit to you or not. In a separate treatment case there's no benefit at all.

Without your expected gross incomes for the year we cannot give you any more details than the above.

chases0102

relax carry on wrote: »

Joint assessment and separate assessment are essentially the same thing. In joint assessment cases one spouse opts to be the assessable spouse (usually the higher earner) and transferable credits/rate band are available to be moved between spouses during the tax year if they want. In a separate assessment case everything is split 50/50 and the transfers take place at the end of the tax year by means of a review. In both cases depending on earnings there may be a benefit to you or not. In a separate treatment case there's no benefit at all.

Without your expected gross incomes for the year we cannot give you any more details than the above.

Thanks a million for that, makes it a bit clearer alright.

I'm on 63k, wife is on 45k

relax carry on

chases0102 wrote: »

Thanks a million for that, makes it a bit clearer alright.

I'm on 63k, wife is on 45k

As both of you are using up your rate bands and credits at the moment there's no taxable benefit to joint assessment other than ease of admin in case one you taxable incomes drops below the stand rate cut off of 35,300 euro.

ForestFire

You wife is on 45k per annum, so once she finishes in March her pay for this year is going to be a lot less I assume (even with maternity benifit).

I always found revenue very helpful to advise on this when I have rang them, they can give you the best possible option.

Also don't worry too much about which you decide, you can always review at end of year if you want this year to be assessed differently if there is a benifit on another option.

chases0102

Thanks folks for the advice, much appreciated