When I first moved to the UK, I thought tax was simple, may sahod ka, may kaltas. Pero pag nagka-family ka, especially if only one of you is working, biglang nagiging komplikado.
So let’s talk about how income tax works for families here in the UK. Walang jargon. Walang fancy terms. Straight talk lang, para sa mga tatay na gustong maintindihan saan napupunta ang pinaghirapan nila.
One-Income Family (like us)
Kung isang parent lang ang working, siya lang ang may taxable income. Meaning, buong household umaasa sa sahod ng isang tao, and all the tax brackets apply to that income.
In the UK, everyone has a Personal Allowance, the amount you can earn before paying tax. As of now, that’s £12,570 per year. Beyond that, ito yung rates:
- 20% Basic Rate for £12,571 to £50,270
- 40% Higher Rate for £50,271 to £125,140
- 45% Additional Rate above £125,140
Kung ikaw lang ang kumikita, lahat ng sweldo mo papasok sa bracket na yan. Mas mataas ang sahod, mas malaki ang tax.
Kung di nagtatrabaho asawa mo, sayang yung personal allowance niya. Every UK resident gets that same £12,570 allowance, pero kung walang income, hindi nagagamit.
Good news: may Marriage Allowance. Pwede mong i-transfer ang parte ng allowance ng non-working spouse sa’yo, up to £1,260. That could save you around £252 per year in taxes.
Also, don’t forget Child Benefit. Kung under £50,000 ang kita mo, you can claim it: about £25.60 per week for the first child and £16.95 for each additional child. Pero kapag lagpas £50k ang income, may High Income Child Benefit Charge, so nababawasan or nababawi ito.
Two-Income Family
Pag both parents are working, each gets their own £12,570 personal allowance. So mas efficient ang tax setup.
Let’s say both earn £25,000 each.
Each pays tax on £12,430 (that’s £25,000 minus £12,570). So both pay tax at the 20% basic rate, instead of one person carrying all the tax burden on a £50,000 salary.
Mas balance, mas maliit ang total tax, at mas may take-home pay overall.
Both parents also build up National Insurance contributions, which help with benefits and pensions later on.
Example Comparison (Combined Income £50,000)
| Setup | Parent 1 Income | Parent 2 Income | Approx. Tax Paid | Take-Home Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Income Family | £50,000 | £0 | ~£7,500 tax + NI | ~£42,500 | Can claim Marriage Allowance, one National Insurance contributor |
| Two-Income Family | £25,000 | £25,000 | ~£2,500 each (total ~£5,000) | ~£45,000 | Both get personal allowance, lower overall tax |
(Amounts are approximate and depend on exact NI rates and pension deductions, but this gives you the idea.)
What It Means for Families Like Us
As a one-income family, we pay a bit more tax overall. Pero may mga tulong na pwede mong i-apply; Marriage Allowance, Child Benefit, and Tax-Free Childcare, kung saan government pays 20% of your childcare costs up to £2,000 a year per child.
Hindi mo kailangan maging accountant para magamit ang mga ito. Kailangan mo lang maging aware.
Dad Buhay Real Talk
Taxes are confusing, lalo na pag may family ka na at bills left and right. Pero kung alam mo paano gumagana, makakatulong siya sa budgeting mo. Every pound you save, mapupunta sa diapers, groceries, or your next family day out.
Being a one-income family is hard, pero hindi hopeless. With the right info and mindset, kaya pa rin mag-survive, at minsan, mag-enjoy pa.
For more information, visit the official UK government site:
www.gov.uk/income-tax
– Until then…Love you, bye! That’s #DadBuhay.
DadBuhay 
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