Blind Person’s Allowance is added to your yearly Personal Allowance - the amount of money you can earn before you start paying Income Tax. Tax year Blind Person’s Allowance 2020 to 2021 £2,500 2019 to 2020 £2,450 If you and your spouse or civil partner are both eligible, you’ll each get an allowance. You can transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner if you do not pay tax or earn enough to use all of your allowance. Previous tax years HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) publishes tables with tax rates that include Blind Person’s Allowance for current and past tax years .

England and Wales You can claim Blind Person’s Allowance if both of the following apply: you’re registered with your local council as blind or severely sight impaired you have a certificate that says you’re blind or severely sight impaired (or a similar document from your doctor) Scotland and Northern Ireland You can claim Blind Person’s Allowance if both of the following apply: you cannot do work for which eyesight is essential you have a certificate that says you’re blind or severely sight impaired (or a similar document from your doctor)

Contact HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) to claim. HMRC Telephone: 0300 200 3301 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (except bank holidays ) Saturday, 8am to 4pm Sunday, Closed Find out about call charges

Transfer your allowance

You can transfer your Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner if you do not pay tax or cannot use all of it. You can do this: if you’re married or in a civil partnership if you’re living with your spouse or civil partner whether or not your spouse or civil partner is blind You can still transfer your allowance if you’re unable to live with your spouse or civil partner because of: illness or old age, for example where your spouse or partner is in residential care working away from home an armed forces posting being in prison training or education How to transfer your allowance To transfer your allowance to a spouse or civil partner, use form 575 or call HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ). HMRC Telephone: 0300 200 3301 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (except bank holidays Saturday, 8am to 4pm Find out about call charges You’ll also get the option to transfer any Married Couple’s Allowance . If you’re making a claim to get tax back on savings and investment interest using form R40 you can also ask for a copy of form 575 by ticking the appropriate box. Get the form in another format Contact HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) if you need the form in a different format, for example Braille.

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Blind Person's Allowance

Overview

Blind Person’s Allowance is an extra amount of tax-free allowance.

It means you can earn more before you start paying Income Tax.

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