The tax system needs to better recognise the benefits of marriage, a new report backed by Christian MP Miriam Cates has said.
UK families with a stay-at-home parent suffer from one of the highest tax burdens in the world, according to the report from the Family Hubs Network (FHN).
Based on polling of more than 2000 British adults, it found widespread support for family-friendly tax changes.
Priority
The poll from Whitestone Insight shows more than a third of the public (35 per cent) believe that cutting taxes for families should be a priority for the Government in the upcoming March budget.
This rises to 55 per cent for parents with children aged under 18.
Nearly half the country (49 per cent) support doubling the marriage tax allowance, which could boost family incomes by £252 a year.
The marriage tax allowance is the amount of a non-working spouse’s tax-free allowance that can be transferred to his or her spouse to reduce the household tax bill – currently £1,260.
The benefit of family is unmatched for society – stronger family ties lead to better educational outcomes, better job prospects and reduced levels of crime.
‘The right thing’
As well as supporting such a move, the FHN report also calls for married couples to be taxed as a household rather than as individuals – current practice in many other similar countries. This would essentially make a person’s tax-free allowance fully transferable to their spouse.
Miriam Cates MP said: “This timely report is clear that helping families through the tax system would be a hugely popular move.
“More than that though, it is the right thing to do. The benefit of family is unmatched for society – stronger family ties lead to better educational outcomes, better job prospects and reduced levels of crime.”
Whitestone Insight polled a nationally representative sample of 2039 GB adults online, from 19-21 January 2024.