Bank and building society interest - Example 5

Vicky, aged 12, has £7,200 in her building society account. Her father had given her £2,400, her mother £1,200 and her uncle £3,600. The interest on the gift from her father comes to more than £100, so Vicky’s parents cannot register her account to get interest without tax taken off.

The interest Vicky gets and the amount of tax that can be claimed back are

 

Father’s gift

 

Her father’s gift of £2,400 produced net interest
(that is, after tax was taken off) of

£88

The amount the building society took off for tax was

£22

The ‘gross’ interest is

£110

As the gross interest is over £100, none of that £22 can be claimed back. The interest is treated as income of Vicky's father and taxed accordingly.

 

Mother’s gift

 

Her mother’s gift of £1,200 produced net interest (that is, after tax was taken off) of

£88

The amount the building society took off for tax was

£22

The ‘gross’ interest is

£110

As the gross interest is under £100, Vicky’s parents can claim back for her the £11 that was taken off.
 

Uncle’s gift

 

Her uncle’s gift of £3,600 produced net interest
(that is, after tax was taken off) of

£132

The amount the building society took off for tax was

£33

The ‘gross’ interest is

£165

As people other than parents are not affected by the £100 gift rule, Vicky's parents can claim back for her the £33 tax that was taken off the interest from her uncle's gift.

The total Vicky's parents can claim back for her is therefore £44 (£11+£33).