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Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why people are angry about the personal tax allowance threshold
The personal tax allowance threshold will be under question in Parliament this afternoon after complaints have been made that it is far too low. This afternoon, MPs will debate a petition on the issue, which has been signed by 250,000 people to date, calling for the threshold to be raised from £12,570 to £20,000. Here's what you need to know about the current threshold, when and why it was set, and what the government has said about raising the threshold in the future. The standard personal allowance for income tax is £12,570. In short, this is the amount of income you can earn before you have to pay tax. The threshold was frozen by the previous Conservative government in 2021, with a freeze in place until 2028. Some of the main taxable earnings that will count towards the income threshold include: Private or workplace pensions: Any income from private or occupational pensions is taxable and added to your total income threshold for the year. Employment income: Any wages earned from a job while you claim your pension are taxable. You are still allowed to work and claim your state pension. Self-employment profits: Income earned through self-employment or freelance work is taxable. Rental income: Earnings from renting out property or land are taxable, although you can claim a £1,000 property allowance for small amounts. Savings interest: Interest earned on savings above the personal savings allowance (£1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers or £500 for higher-rate taxpayers) is taxable. The tax threshold freeze has come under fire because it not only means more working people have to pay more tax, but it also means a lot of pensioners will too. Since freezing thresholds raises overall tax revenue without tax rates actually increasing, the policy has also been branded a 'stealth tax' by critics. Currently, 2.6 million people already receive a state pension above the personal allowance limit, The Telegraph reports. Now, the 4.1% rise will drag 650,000 more across the threshold in 2025-26. The petition has a specific ask: to raise the income tax personal allowance from £12,570 to £20,000. The petition reads: "We think it is abhorrent to tax pensioners on their state pension when it is over the personal allowance. "We also think raising the personal allowance would lift many low earners out of benefits and inject more cash into the economy, creating growth." As the petition has been signed by 100,000 people, it has to be debated in Parliament. Campaign groups like Silver Voices have also urged the government to rethink the threshold freeze, arguing that the threshold is low relative to inflation and rising incomes, and unfairly affects pensioners, who have paid tax on their income already. Another petition by the group demanded the government lowered the threshold. The petition, hosted on has accrued 124,000 signatures. The petition was made on behalf of a widow named Colette, aged 75, who is entitled to a proportion of her late husband's state pension as well as her own, and found for the first time this year that the combined total took her over the tax threshold by about £1000, which is now being taxed. More details about what the government thinks about lifting the freeze will be made clear today. But all signs point to the government sticking to its guns. In its response to the petition, the Treasury said it will not raise to the personal allowance threshold to £20,000, and it has kept the freeze to "ensure fiscal responsibility". A spokesperson from the Treasury said: "The government is committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds. "The government has no plans to increase the Personal Allowance to £20,000. Increasing the Personal Allowance to £20,000 would come at a significant fiscal cost of many billions of pounds per annum. "This would reduce tax receipts substantially, decreasing funds available for the UK's hospitals, schools, and other essential public services that we all rely on. It would also undermine the work the Chancellor has done to restore fiscal responsibility and economic stability, which are critical to getting our economy growing and keeping taxes, inflation, and mortgages as low as possible. "The government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way."
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Dispute could see beloved donkeys removed from Wicklow home
Gerry and Sandra Kinsella became the guardians of Wags and Trey 13 years ago, having fostered them from Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, and they currently reside at Brickfield Sidings Farm beside Burke's Hardware in Rathnew. However, Donkey Sanctuary Ireland now wishes to take the donkeys back, claiming they have 'grounds for serious concerns about both the conduct of the guardian and the welfare of the donkeys', claims which the Kinsellas reject. Donkey Sanctuary Ireland said they have issued legal proceedings against the Kinsellas to retrieve the donkeys. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Kinsella said: 'Our local community knows and loves these donkeys. Children visit them, neighbours stop to say hello, and they bring happiness to many. 'They are happy and well-loved. Despite this, we are now being threatened by the Donkey Sanctuary who are trying to take them away.' He said the issues began in 2021 when the Department of Agriculture carried out Ireland's first National Equine Census, and Gerry and Sandra included Wags and Trey, as they were legally required to do so. Nine months later the department asked for an update on their passports as they were both originally from the UK. The Department of Agriculture states that when a foreign-registered equine moves to live in Ireland, the associated passport must be lodged with an Irish passport issuing organisation within 30 days of coming into the country. Gerry and Sandra maintain that this wasn't carried out by Donkey Sanctuary Ireland. 'I followed their instructions and legally transferred their passports to the Irish Equine Passport Database,' said Gerry. 'This made me their official keeper carer, and we were able to complete the census. 'In doing so, they were removed from the UK database, which the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland had registered them with. In good faith, I informed the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland that I changed Wags' and Trey's passports into Irish passports to complete the equine census.' Since these actions were taken, Gerry says that Donkey Sanctuary Ireland has been trying to take the donkeys back to live with them at their base in Cork. ADVERTISEMENT In a bid to stop this happening, Gerry and Sandra have started a petition titled 'Save the donkeys from being taken from their home', which has already amassed 1,170 signatures. In the plea on the couple state that 'we've always looked after them with love, respect, and responsibility. Now, we're facing the heartbreak of losing them through no fault of their own'. 'If you've ever stopped to say hello, shared an apple, taken a photo, or simply smiled at the sight of them — please sign this petition,' they add. Wicklow Animal Welfare's founder Fiona Gammell is among those who have lent support to the Kinsellas. 'I know the two donkeys from driving past them so regularly,' she said. 'I always felt there were two of the luckiest donkeys in Ireland, because of the beautiful home they were provided with and because you can see just how well they are looked after.' In response to the claims made by the Kinsellas, a spokesperson for Donkey Sanctuary Ireland said: 'The welfare of our donkeys is always our utmost priority. That is why all our guardians must commit to following strict guidelines on matters such as passports, routine healthcare and regular meetings with our welfare advisors. 'We do not recognise the order of events and claims published on social media by the guardian.' The statement claims that this 'undermines the dedication shown by our passionate and committed staff over many years'. 'We have no option but to pursue legal proceedings in the hope of settling on a resolution that is in the best interests of the donkeys involved,' the statement concluded.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
'A love for life': Hundreds gather to remember Wellington student killed in crash
WELLINGTON — Woodland Middle School chorus teacher Danielle Fuente recalled the first time she met Landon Coggin, describing him as a shy, quiet sixth-grader trying to find his classes on the first day of school. Then, on Day Two, she met the "real" Landon — "an energetic, talkative goofball with a love for life," she told hundreds who gathered Wednesday evening for a celebration of life service at the Wellington Amphitheater. Family, friends and members of the community gathered to remember Landon, a 13-year-old Woodlands Middle School Student who died the afternoon of Jan. 30 when a truck hit him and another student, Elias G. Angel, 12, near the campus on Lyons Road. The boys had fallen into the roadway when their bicycles became entangled while riding home from school. Those attending Wednesday's celebration of life shared hugs and stories as they gathered in remembrance. Many lit candles as dusk turned to dark. "His 13 years may have been brief, but his impact on us is something that will last forever," said Sean Lavender, a pastor at Life Church in Wellington. "Landon was a young man whose spirit shone brightly in everything he did, whether through his laughter, his kindness or the way he care for those around him." Fuente recalled Landon's playful nature and his hidden talent for singing. "He was the type of student who it didn't matter where I sat him in class — he would find someone to talk to," she said. Fuente said Landon developed a passion for singing during his three years in chorus, joining two classmates last fall in earning spots in Palm Beach County's Tenor Day and performing with about 100 middle and high school students. But not everyone knew about Landon's singing ability, Fuente said. "He often threatened to drop out of chorus if I ever told anyone outside of chorus that he could actually sing," she said. "Well, Landon, I'm sorry but I do have to expose you. That boy could sing." Previous coverage: One boy dead, another injured after bicycles, truck crash near Woodlands Middle School Wednesday's celebration included calls for traffic safety improvements in school zones. A petition on the website created in the wake of the wreck has attained more than 2,000 signatures supporting calls for changes such as the installation of barriers near bicycle lanes. Several people added their names Wednesday evening. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office investigators said a Peterbilt semitruck hit Landon and Elias after both fell into the roadway. Elias received treatment for serious injuries at Delray Medical Center. "There should be things to protect our children, protect people in bike lanes," said Darryl Kogan, an attorney and a longtime family friend who worked with Landon's grandmother. "It's such a tragedy that we had a great kid here whose not here with us now, but hopefully something good can come in his memory." Sign up for our Post on Wellington weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday! Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Celebration of Life honors Woodlands Middle student killed in crash
