5. Income tax

Everyone needs to pay income tax, so whilst it is not necessary for every lawyer to have knowledge to the same extent of a specialist tax lawyer or a financial advisor, it remains essential for every lawyer to have sufficient knowledge and understanding to be able to undertake basic income tax calculations, understand the stages in those calculations, any applicable reliefs and how they work, therefore enabling them to recognise the impact of income tax on both clients and themselves. This chapter discusses the background to income tax law; the role of HMRC in the collection of income tax and the dates for payment of income tax; sources of taxable income. rates of income tax, reliefs and allowances; the key elements to an income tax calculation. This chapter covers the changes introduced by the March 2021 Budget.