In the hardest budget of his career, Allan Bell announced the following in Tynwald today.
- No change in personal income tax – standard rate stays at 10 per cent and higher rate remaining at 18 per cent.
- No change in income tax personal allowance which remains at £9,200 for single people and £18,400 for married couples.
- Higher rate tax threshold remains the same. Single people can have an income of £19,700 before paying tax at 18 per cent, for married couples this figure in £39,400.
- Personal allowance credit increased to a £550 flat rate payment to all eligible people with income less than £9,200.
- Additional personal allowance remains at £2,000 for over 65s, taking their allowance to £11,200 for single people and £22,400 for married couples.
- Jobseekers allowance made a non-taxable benefit.
- Tax cap on total income payable per person remains at £100,000 or £200,000 per married couple.
- £5.6 million or 1.0 per cent increase in net department revenue spending on public services.
- £0.2 million surplus expected in 2009-10, £14 million surplus in the current financial year.
- Capital programme at £126.8 million.
- £30 million to be transferred to various reserves in the current year.
- £127 million capital spending programme plus £22 million for the local authorities housing programme.
- £15 million transfer to public sector pensions reserve.
- Overseas aid budget increased by £200,000 to £2.4 million.
