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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fine threats over child benefit | Fine threats over child benefit |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Higher rate taxpayers could be fined if they fail to declare their partner receives child benefit. | Higher rate taxpayers could be fined if they fail to declare their partner receives child benefit. |
| The Treasury has confirmed that "penalties" would be issued in cases of non-disclosure of earnings. | The Treasury has confirmed that "penalties" would be issued in cases of non-disclosure of earnings. |
| The benefit is to be stopped from 2013 if at least one parent earns over £44,000, but some experts have questioned whether this is workable. | The benefit is to be stopped from 2013 if at least one parent earns over £44,000, but some experts have questioned whether this is workable. |
| They say the tax system traditionally looks at individuals rather than couples, making administration harder. | They say the tax system traditionally looks at individuals rather than couples, making administration harder. |
| In many cases, the father is the higher rate tax payer, but the mother receives the benefit. | In many cases, the father is the higher rate tax payer, but the mother receives the benefit. |
| 'Complex and intrusive' | 'Complex and intrusive' |
| That makes it much harder to administer - because couples do not always know about each other's finances, and if they split up things become even more complicated. | That makes it much harder to administer - because couples do not always know about each other's finances, and if they split up things become even more complicated. |
| The government plans to write to all four million higher rate taxpayers asking them whether their household gets child benefit. | The government plans to write to all four million higher rate taxpayers asking them whether their household gets child benefit. |
| Those who fail to answer or do not tell the truth could be fined. | Those who fail to answer or do not tell the truth could be fined. |
| The Treasury says legislation will be brought forward to implement the change, but critics say this could create a much more complex and intrusive tax and benefit system. | The Treasury says legislation will be brought forward to implement the change, but critics say this could create a much more complex and intrusive tax and benefit system. |
| Chancellor George Osborne announced the changes earlier this month in a move designed to save £2bn a year. | Chancellor George Osborne announced the changes earlier this month in a move designed to save £2bn a year. |
| But critics, including Labour, seized on the "unfairness" of the reforms for stay-at-home mothers. | But critics, including Labour, seized on the "unfairness" of the reforms for stay-at-home mothers. |
| A couple who are both working can earn more than £80,000 between them and still claim benefit, while those relying on a single income just above the higher tax rate will miss out. | A couple who are both working can earn more than £80,000 between them and still claim benefit, while those relying on a single income just above the higher tax rate will miss out. |
| Shadow foreign secretary - and former Work and Pensions Secretary - Yvette Cooper said the government's policy was "unravelling" - a claim Treasury sources have dismissed as "nonsense". | |
| A report in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday claimed the Treasury was struggling to find ways to make the plan work. | A report in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday claimed the Treasury was struggling to find ways to make the plan work. |
| Note: higher rate tax begins after earning £43,875 (£37,400 + personal allowance of £6,475) | Note: higher rate tax begins after earning £43,875 (£37,400 + personal allowance of £6,475) |
| Source: HMRC | Source: HMRC |
| Do you think the government's plan is workable? Are you a higher rate taxpayer? What do you think of the plan to fine those over non-disclosure? You can send us your views using the form below. | |
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