24m to get personal tax summaries sent annually
From today, taxpayers will begin receiving their first annual personal tax summary explaining how their taxes are raised and spent.
The personal tax summaries will show how tax is calculated and what it is spent on and will include summaries of how much income tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) has been paid over the financial year 2013 to 2014 and how this is calculated.
The back of the summaries show how much tax is paid went on health, defence, overseas aid and other areas.
They will also show taxpayers their 'tax-free' amount or personal tax allowance - how much money they can earn which isn't taxed. About 24 million people will receive a personal tax summary and it is the first year that the government is sending out personal tax summaries. From now on they will be sent annually.
There are around 30 million personal taxpayers in the UK and around 80% of individual taxpayers will receive a personal tax summary.
People won't receive a personal tax summary if they have paid no income tax in the past year or where we are waiting for information - for example a change of address, or updated PAYE information from their employer.
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The personal tax summary is for your reference only and no action is required. HM Treasury says that the government is sending them out to improve the transparency of the personal tax system, so that individuals know how much tax they pay, how it is calculated and how the government spends it.
It's part of a wider aim of the government to make the tax system fair and simpler
HMRC's self assessment customers can already access their Tax Summary through HMRC Online Services. These online summaries will are available to self assessment customers from the 3 November providing they have filed their tax return for the previous year.
Customers who file after the 3rd of November will be informed of the online tax summary when they submit their tax return.
In future, HMRC will provide everyone with a digital account which will include their tax summary.