HMRC has raised the tax-free allowance for blind people to £15,820 this tax year. The Blind Person's Allowance, which is an additional amount of tax-free income, increased to £3,250 in April, reflecting a £120 rise from the previous year due to inflation. This amount is added to the annual Personal Allowance, currently at £12,570, boosting total tax-free earnings to £15,820 from the 2026-27 tax year, starting from April 1.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the allowance, people must meet two conditions in England and Wales. Firstly, a person must be registered with their local council as blind or severely sight-impaired, and have a certificate confirming this, or a similar document from a doctor. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the Blind Person's Allowance can be claimed if eyesight prevents a person from doing work that it is essential for.
Transferring the Allowance
The allowance can be transferred to a spouse or civil partner if you do not pay tax or earn enough to use all of your allowance. However, if you and your spouse or civil partner are both eligible, you will each get an allowance.
How to Claim
To claim, you must contact HMRC by phone on 0300 200 3301.
What is the Personal Allowance?
The standard Personal Allowance is £12,570, which is the amount of income people can earn without paying tax. A personal allowance goes down by £1 for every £2 that your adjusted net income is above £100,000. This means the allowance is zero if a person's income is £125,140 or above.
Current UK Income Tax Bands and Rates
- Personal Allowance: Up to £12,570 – 0%
- Basic rate: £12,571 to £50,270 – 20%
- Higher rate: £50,271 to £125,140 – 40%
- Additional rate: Over £125,140 – 45%
HMRC announced the change in April. The increase provides additional financial support for blind individuals across the UK.
