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The Recent History Of The Additional Rate Of Income Tax

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Overview: The Recent History of the Additional Rate of Income Tax It is important to note, from the onset, that income tax remains the government’s largest revenue source – effectively raking in an average of 30 percent of the total tax collected. In essence, every individual has what is referred to as personal allowance on income tax, whereby every tax year, all incomes that do not exceed the set allowance are not taxed. All other income is subject to the various tax rates captured in several bands. In the year 2009 budget, it was announced that beginning April 2010, individuals raking in incomes exceeding £150,000 would be subject to a new 50% tax rate (HM Revenue & Customs, 2014). The previous rate, prior to the introduction of the top rate by the Labor government had been 45p. However, the incoming government reduced the top rate to 45p – a change that took effect from 2013 April. It is important to note that all incomes that do not exceed £32,000 are, at the moment, subject to a basic tax rate of 20%. For those raking in more than £32,011 (with a ceiling of £150,000), a higher rate applies. According to the proposal to restore the 50% additional rate of income tax, 50% of incomes exceeding £150,000 (which are at present taxed at the rate of 45%) ought to be handed over to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as tax. The person fronting the said proposal is Ed Balls, a Labor Party politician.
Should the 50% Additional Rate of Income Tax Rate be

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