Maintenance Payments relief
Maintenance Payments relief can reduce your tax if you make maintenance
payments to your ex-spouse or former civil partner. It is an amount
that we take off your tax bill - so you can only claim it if you pay
tax.
On this page:
Who can get Maintenance Payments relief?
You can get Maintenance Payments relief if all of the following apply:
- you or your ex-spouse or former civil partner were born before
6 April 1935
- you're separated or divorced or the civil partnership has dissolved
and you're making the payments under a Court Order
- the payments are for the maintenance of your ex-spouse or former
civil partner (provided they aren't now remarried or in a new civil
partnership) or for your children who are under 21
How much Maintenance Payments relief might you get?
For the tax year 2011-12 Maintenance Payments relief can reduce your
tax bill by the lower of the following two amounts:
- ten per cent of £2,800 (£280) - this will apply where you make
maintenance payments of £2,800 or more a year
- ten per cent of the amount you've actually paid - this will apply
where you make maintenance payments of less than £2,800
You can't claim a tax reduction for any voluntary payments that you
make for a child, ex-spouse or former civil partner.
Maintenance Payments relief - worked example for 2011-12
tax year
You're 80, divorced, have total income of £20,000 and pay your ex-spouse
£1,200 maintenance a year (£100 per month):
- your total income is £20,000
- your tax-free allowance is £10,090 (age-related Personal Allowance
for 65 to 74 year olds)
- subtract your tax-free allowance (£10,090) from your total income
(£20,000) - that leaves you with taxable income of £9,910 and a tax
bill of £1,982 (20 per cent of £9,910) , But you can use your Maintenance
Payments relief to reduce your tax bill
- you make maintenance payments of £1,200 so are due tax relief of
£120 (10 per cent of £1,200)
- this amount is deducted from your tax bill
How to claim Maintenance Payments relief
To claim Maintenance Payments relief simply contact HMRC by following the first
link below.
If you have already claimed Maintenance Payments relief and you receive
a 'PAYE Coding Notice' this will tell you how much you are getting.
If you fill in a Self Assessment tax return you’ll have to include
details of your Maintenance Payments relief claim.
Contact HMRC
Understanding your PAYE Coding Notice
Do you need to complete a tax return?
If you receive maintenance payments
You do not pay tax on any maintenance payments that you receive.
More useful links
Do you have to pay tax in
retirement?
Personal Allowance - learn more
Blind Person's Allowance
