HC Deb 26 July 1979 vol 971 cc430-1W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the tax thresholds in each member State of the EEC, and in Sweden, the United States of America and Japan for a single person, a single-wage married couple and a couple with two children.

Mr. Peter Rees,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10 July 1979; Vol. 970],gave the following answer: The information requested is given in the following table:

TAX THRESHOLDS—EMPLOYMENT INCOME
Country Single Married couple £ Married couple with two children £
£ £ £
EEC
Belgium 1,810 1,945 2,270
Denmark 1,410 2,650 2,650
France 2,150 2,860 4,150
Germany 1,720 3,020 3,020
Ireland 1,015 2,030 2,425
Italy 755 1,150 1,310
Luxembourg 2,020 3,370 5,270
Netherlands 2,110 2,690 2,690
United Kingdom 1,165 1,815 1,815
Others
Sweden 690 1,350 1,350
United States of America 1,500 2,455 3,920
Japan 1,735 2,440 4,390

Notes:

1. Figures are for the income year 1979 or 1979–80, except for France—1978—which fixes its tax scale in arrear at the end of the income year. The United Kingdom—1979–80—figures take into account the increased personal reliefs proposed by the Chancellor in his Budget.

2. In the case of married couples, all the income is assumed to be the husband's.

3. Personal reliefs, minimum expenses deductions, employment income reliefs and other flat rate reliefs have been taken into account, as have deductible social security contributions. Voluntary contributions to social security schemes have been ignored.

4. Child benefits have been felt out of account in these figures.

5. Conversions to sterling were made at the exchange rates prevailing in London on 9 July 1979. Such conversions may not reflect differences in domestic purchasing power between the United Kingdom and individual foreign currencies.

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