Married women tax law to change?
Thursday 2nd February 2012, 2:59PM GMT.
Deputy Geoff Southern has lodged a proposition to modernise the law
MARRIED women could have full control over their own tax affairs following a proposition to abolish the law that automatically regards their earnings as part of their husband’s income.
In the States this week, Deputy Geoff Southern lodged a proposition to modernise the law.
The issue was highlighted in a JEP report last week, in which family law expert Advocate Barbara Corbett, called for changes to the law, which she described as ‘archaic and ridiculous’.
Advocate Corbett said that the States should have revised the law when the civil partnerships law was approved in July last year.
Deputy Southern agreed, criticising the States for not acting at the time.
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Yes woman should have control over their tax and why not?
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Maybe we could put this on the ‘to do’ list for when we have some money again.
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The only opposition will come from those with non-work-wives. They will pay more the rest of us will pay a little less.
I regard Geoff Southern as a fully committed member of the loony left, but that does not make in wrong on all matters.
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Jersey calling, Jersey calling.
Well, since we have now allowed them to vote and drive, I dare say that it’s now time for our better halves to be given the freedom to control their tax matters.
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yet more disproportionate press coverage for this man…why?
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He’s doing something good. Quit moaning just because you don’t like him.
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See outsider’s second para below – on the money.
He still receives a disproportionately large amount of press coverage…I’m afraid you can’t disagree with that.
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It may be disproportionate press coverage, but does not make a right wrong. The JEP give many local politicians disproportionate press coverage, just look at the coverage given to Sir Philip Bailhache over recent months, to name but one. I support neither politician.
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Yes the law is archaic however my wife has allowed me to have a separate assessment for many years!
You only have to ask at the office. The reason its not widely publicised is that it creates additional work for the Dept.and not all staff have been trained on the factors involved.
Mind you, I still have to fill hers in anyway because “you understand it better than me”.
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Agree, you can write a letter to the Taxman to give your wife the freedom of looking after her tax then it’s “how do i know what to write down? you do it!”
Wish she would say the say about the bank card!
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Good Lord, no!! They’ll be wanting the vote and equal rights next!
Southern’s just jumping on a politically convenient bandwagon – why hasn’t he ever raised this previously. Purely trying to take the limelight for an issue that has been raised countless times before.
Yes, women should be treated equally. It’s ludicrous that they effectively become a possession on marriage.
However, we should be looking at the more expensive issue that is the total inefficiency of the manner in which we currently collect income tax. Why oh why do I have to receive communication from the dept so many times a year?! Here’s a bill…but it’s not a bill…here’s what you should pay…but it’s up to you if pay that amount…woops, we made a mistake…here’s a different amount to pay….oh, you’re not earning as much as you did last year, here’s a bill…no, you’re now paying too much, pay a little less…and on and on and on. How many man hours are lost both by the Income Tax dept and all the people on the island responsible for payroll? All wasted time.
And why have we still not got capability to submit online? All that wasted paper, more expense.
Come on Geoff, sort these ones and I may consider you for a vote in future.
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Guernsey are way ahead.. their online tax submission is far more efficient and quick!
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Time and again I realize that not all Donkeys’ are donkeys.
Let us reform the States of Jersey by bring in a few Guernsey men (and women).
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I am a married woman and have always had control over my own tax affairs; to my knowledge, you only lose control if you choose to submit a joint tax form. Althouhgh it is postively archaic to have ‘your income’ and ‘wife’s income’ on the form. Where is the form for women which asks for ‘your income’ and ‘your husband’s income’? I asked once, they didn’t like it!
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Oh Jerseys’ out of step with the UK, how terrible.
I like the present system, all i have to do is ask Cyril Le M house to issue separate forms for my husband & 1, and guess what?, they already provide the service.
But why change the status quo, many husbands are happy to do the work, and i’m glad of it.
Archaic, and happy!.
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The Grey Voter “Mind you, I still have to fill hers in anyway because you understand it better than me”.
You’re being played mate I use the same ruse myself. I’d love to cook the dinner, clean the house, do the shopping/ironing/walk the dog – but you’re soo much better at it than me, I’m a simple man best I sit here in front of the TV with a can of lager…
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This is absurd…if we start giving women equal rights, particularly with something as important as finances, where will it end??? Pretty soon people will be expecting the gays to have equal rights as well and all too soon (I shudder at the thought) children will expect to have rights as well. This Island is just too progressive. I think I might go somewhere where male dominance is properly recognised as a matter of law. Somewhere like Syria. Won’t get any wives filing tax returns there!
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I’m sorry, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
As has been mentioned, there is already a facility in place for both Husband and Wife to have a seperate tax form.
This will no doubt lead to a 2 day debate at the end of which nothing is decided and another important (and more pressing) proposition will be pushed further down the line.
lets get tourism sorted, lets get the unemployed back to work and there are probably another million things that are more important and relevant.
On a final note, haven’t heard anyone complaining about this previously and my new wife seems happy for me to fill the form in on our behalf.
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The current system you can request a separate form if you would like to manage your affairs separately.
I don’t have a problem with a ‘joint’ form but the trouble is its not joint because even though as a person of the opposite sex who is not apparently responsible enough to manage her own tax affairs I am apparently responsible enough to earn a wage, pay my tax and social security even responsible for staff and making decisions.
BUT and it is a big BUT I am not able to talk to the tax office about the tax I pay, the form I fill out, the finances I manage because apparently its against data protection. A simple tick box on the tax form that allows BOTH taxpayers to speak to the tax office would be a simple and cost effective solution. I would just like to be recognised for the taxes i pay and contribute to the Island.
The figures suggested in the paper of costs of over 0.5million to fund the scheme are all hot air to stop the scheme and to keep women in their place. Simple and cost effective solutions can be found but as its the SoJ lets make it as complicated as possible, waste lots of money and drag the issue out for as long as possible.
use the existing form for married couples (and civil) but have a box that recognises that both partners are involved for data protection and they both have to sign it. If people would like to have separate forms then they have the option.
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I note that some people have posted that you can have separate assessments however that does not apply to me as my husband has a business and I am a director on paper only so even if I were to have one it still means that half HIS company tax gets put on my bill even though I do not take a penny from his Company I am still liable! I overpaid tax last year and it was just eaten up by the Company and I have no way of getting it back. It is archaic to assume that all married couples have joint finances, we do not and every year this causes the same arguments. To add insult to injury I am not even allowed to discuss this matter with the tax department due to Data protection.
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Some married couples have joint finances, and others do not. For us, a joint tax return is more convenient, but they should offer both options (which they do currently).
The change that is required is 2 signatures on the bottom of the tax return, making us jointly responsible for our tax (and changing the wording away from ‘your earnings’ and ‘your wife’s earnings’). A separate tax return can be requested at the moment, and if they want to make this the default then fine – but the option of a joint return should be there.
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I let my wife fill in the tax form and then I sign it when she is finished. She then posts it on her way to work.
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Nigel Lawson introduced separate taxation for married couples in the UK back in 1988 and here we are in 2012 and we still haven’t implemented a law to end this almost feudal/biblical discrimination. Contrast the way our law makers and politicians will turn on a sixpence to introduce a piece of whizzy new trust or companies act law if they think its required.
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