Adjusted net income – PMA Business Services Ltd

Work out adjusted net income to know how much tax I need to pay.

Who is affected by adjusted net income?

Your adjusted net income will affect your tax if any of the following apply. You are liable to the:

income-related reduction to the Higher Personal Allowances – where you born before 6 April 1948 and have an adjusted net income of over £27,000 (tax year 2014 to 2015)
income-related reduction to the Personal Allowance – where you have an adjusted net income over £100,000 (regardless of your date of birth)
High Income Child Benefit charge – where you have an adjusted net income above £50,000

What is adjusted net income?

Adjusted net income is total taxable income less certain tax reliefs, for example for:

trading losses
donations made to charities through Gift Aid
pension contributions paid gross (before tax relief)
pension contributions where your pension provider has already given you tax relief at the basic rate

Work out your adjusted net income

Work out your adjusted net income by following steps 1 to 4 below.

Step 1 – work out your ‘net income’

Add up your taxable income.

Include things like:

income from employment (including any company benefits)
profits from self-employment
taxable social security benefits
pensions (including the State Pension)
savings, dividend and rental income

Take off any tax reliefs that apply like:

payments made gross to pension schemes – those that have been made without tax relief
trading losses, for example trade loss relief or property loss relief

This is your ‘net income’

Your net income is then adjusted – steps 2 to 4 below.

Step 2 – take off Gift Aid donations

If you made a Gift Aid donation, take off the ‘grossed-up’ amount – what you paid plus the basic rate of tax.

So, for every £1 of Gift Aid donations you made, take £1.25 from your net income.

Step 3 – take off pension contributions

If you made a contribution to a pension scheme where your pension provider has already given you tax relief at basic rate, take off the ‘grossed-up’ amount – what you paid plus the basic rate of tax.

So, for every £1 of pension contribution you made, take £1.25 from your net income.

Step 4 – add back tax relief for payments to trade unions or police organisations

Tax relief of up to £100 is available if you make payments to a trade union or police organisation for superannuation, life insurance or funeral benefits.

If you took off an amount for this type of payment at step 1, add it back.

Adjusted net income – examples

For 2014 to 2015, Charles’ total taxable income is £40,000, made up of:

pensions (including State Pension) £25,000
bank interest £10,000
dividends £ 5,000

There are no further adjustments to Charles’ total income, so this is his net income.

Charles makes Gift Aid donations of £1,000. He can take £1,250 off his net income, £1,000 plus £250, the value of the basic rate tax.

Charles’ adjusted net income is £38,750 (£40,000 less £1,250).

Charles’ adjusted net income is used to work out his Personal Allowance.

For 2014 to 2015 Bill’s taxable income is £115,000, made up of:

income from self-employment £85,000
income from property £20,000
bank interest £10,000

Bill makes private pension contributions without tax relief of £10,000.

Bill’s net income is £105,000 (£115,000 less £10,000).

There are no further adjustments to Bill’s net income, so this is his adjusted net income.

Bill’s adjusted net income is used to work out his Personal Allowance.

Clara – High Income Child Benefit charge

Clara’s total taxable income is £60,000, made up of:

Income from employment £55,000
Bank interest £5,000

Clara makes private pension contributions without tax relief of £4,750.

Her net income is £55,250 (£60,000 less £4,750).

Clara makes Gift Aid donations of £1,000. She can take £1,250 off her net income, £1,000 plus £250, the value of the basic rate tax.

Clara’s adjusted net income is £54,000 (£55,250 less £1,250).

Clara’s adjusted net income is used to work out her High Income Child Benefit charge.