Personal savings allowance

From 6 April 2016, if you are a basic rate taxpayer you’ll be able to earn up to £1,000 in savings income tax-free. Higher rate taxpayers will be able to earn up to £500. This is called the Personal Savings Allowance.

Due to this change in legislation, banks and building societies will no longer be deducting tax from interest payments they make from 6 April 2016. If you already receive interest without tax being taken off, there is no need to tell your bank or building society that you still qualify for tax-free interest. From 6 April 2016, no tax is being deducted.

Savings income includes account interest from:

• bank and building society accounts
• accounts with providers like credit unions or National Savings and Investments

It also includes:

• interest distributions (but not dividend distributions) from authorised unit trusts, open-ended investment companies and investment trusts
• income from government or company bonds
• most types of purchased life annuity payments

Interest from Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) doesn’t count towards your Personal Savings Allowance because it’s already tax-free.

The amount of your Personal Savings Allowance depends on your adjusted net income – this is defined as total taxable income before any personal allowances are deducted, but after deductions for allowable trading losses, gift aid donations and pension contributions.

The table below shows your allowance from 6 April 2016, depending on whether you’re a basic, higher or additional rate taxpayer.