Welsh Income Tax takes effect

The start of the 2019-20 tax year marked a fundamental change to the way Income Tax is calculated for people who live in Wales. The new Welsh rates of Income Tax (WRIT) are payable on the non-savings and non-dividend income of those defined as Welsh taxpayers. The revenue from the WRIT will go to the Welsh Government.

The UK government has reduced each of the 3 rates of Income Tax – basic, higher and additional rate – paid by Welsh taxpayers by 10p. The Welsh Government has autonomy to decide the 3 Welsh rates of Income Tax (the Welsh basic rate; the Welsh higher rate; and the Welsh additional rate), which will be added to the reduced UK rates.

In due course, this change could mean that people living in Wales will pay a different rate of Income Tax compared to people in other parts of the UK. However, for the time being, the rates of Income Tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will continue to be the same as those paid by English and Northern Irish taxpayers. This is because the Welsh Government has set the Welsh rates at the same level as in England and Northern Ireland at 10p for 2019-20.

The definition of a Welsh taxpayer is generally focused on the question of where the taxpayer lives. If the taxpayer has one place of residence or a main residence in Wales, then they will be defined as a Welsh taxpayer.

Welsh taxpayers that pay PAYE should have received a new tax code, starting with C for Cymru. Self-employed taxpayers living in Wales will be required to note their country of residence when they file their 2019-20 tax return.