In this section:
- Introduction to tax allowances and reliefs
- Personal Allowance
- Blind Person's Allowance
- Married Couple's Allowance
- Maintenance Payments Relief
- Tax allowances and reliefs - employees or directors
- How to get allowances and reliefs - employees or directors
- Tax allowances and reliefs if you're self-employed
- Tax relief when giving to charity
- Tax relief on pension contributions
Blind Person's Allowance
If you're certified blind and are on a local authority register of blind persons, or if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland and are unable to perform any work for which eyesight is essential, you can claim Blind Person's Allowance. If you can't use up some or all of your allowance you may be able to transfer it.
On this page:
- How Blind Person's Allowance works
- Level of Blind Person's Allowance
- How you get Blind Person's Allowance
- Transferring your Blind Person's Allowance to your spouse or civil partner
- More useful links
How Blind Person's Allowance works
Blind Person's Allowance is added to your tax-free Personal Allowance - so is an extra amount of income you can get each year without paying tax. If you are on a low income or even if you don't pay any tax you may be able to transfer your Blind Person's Allowance to your spouse or civil partner - see the section on transferring below.
Level of Blind Person's Allowance
Blind Person's Allowance for the tax year 2009-10 is £1,890 - there are no age or income restrictions.
So if, for example, you're 58, registered blind with your local authority and have:
- an annual salary of £10,000
- a Personal Allowance of £6,475
- Blind Person’s Allowance of £1,890
you only need to pay tax on £1,635 (£10,000 less the sum of £6,475 and £1,890).
If both you and your spouse or civil partner qualify for Blind Person's Allowance you can each get an allowance.
Personal Allowance - learn more
How you get Blind Person's Allowance
If you think you may be able to claim Blind Person's Allowance contact us on our priority telephone number 0845 366 7887. Lines are open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, Saturday
Transferring your Blind Person's Allowance to your spouse or civil partner
If your tax bill isn't high enough to use up all of your Blind Person's Allowance you can use form 575 'Notice of transfer of surplus Income Tax allowances' to transfer any unused allowance to your spouse or civil partner. If you are making a claim for repayment of tax on a form R40 you can also request form 575 by ticking the appropriate box.
If you don't pay tax and your spouse or civil partner does you can still transfer your unused allowance to them.
If you are able to claim Married Couple's Allowance you must transfer any unused allowance when you are transferring your unused Blind Person's Allowance.
Go to form 575 Notice of transfer of surplus Income Tax allowances
More about Married Couple's Allowance
More about civil partnerships on the Women & Equality unit website (opens new window)
More useful links
Check Income Tax rates and allowances
Financial planning for retirement on the Directgov website
Do you have to pay tax in retirement?
