TAX ALLOWANCE FOR BLINDNESS: This section explains exactly what allowances a blind person will get.
It also covers the application process once you have determined you are eligible to make a claim.
Further information clarifies how to transfer the tax-free blind allowances to your spouse or civil partner.
How Much is Blind Person Tax Allowance?
The extra allowance given to registered blind people is not an actual payment. Instead, the tax benefit gets added to your yearly Personal Allowance. That means you can earn more money before you start paying Income Tax.
The current Blind Person’s Allowance 2022/23 is £2,600 – regardless of age or income. HMRC increased the allowance for blindness from £2,520 in this current tax year.
What about your spouse?
In fact, you and your spouse (or civil partner) will both get the allowance providing both of you qualify for it.
Some blind people do not pay any tax at all. Whereas, others do not earn enough salary to use the entire amount of their allowances. In this case you can transfer the Blind Person’s Allowance to your spouse or civil partner.
Note: HM Revenue and Customs publish tax rate tables showing the Blind Persons Tax Allowance for past years.
Blind Person’s Allowance Eligibility Criteria
- England and Wales: You will be eligible to claim Blind Person’s Tax Allowance providing you have registered with your local council as severely sight impaired or blind.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland: You will be eligible to claim the Blind Person Tax Allowance if you are unable to perform work that requires eyesight.
Claiming the Blind Person’s Tax Allowance
You will need to claim the Blind Person’s Allowance because it is not paid by automatic process. Even so, you can backdate claims for up to four (4) years.
Contact HM Revenue and Customs to claim.
Telephone: 0300 200 3301
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturday: 8am to 4pm
Sunday: 9am to 5pm
Check UK phone call charges.
Note: This particular HMRC helpline closes on bank holidays in the United Kingdom as well as Easter Sunday.
Transferring Blind Person’s Tax Allowance
This information explains how to transfer your allowance, or part of it, to your spouse or civil partner. As a rule, you can do this even if they are not actually sight impaired.
You need to use HMRC Form 575(T) for transferring Blind Person Allowance. This option is for those who do not pay income tax or cannot use all their tax allowances. It is also useful for those who are getting a low income.
Inland Revenue Tax Allowances
Note: You will also get the option to transfer any Married Couple’s Allowance that you qualify for as well.
The Tax Form R40 is for those who are making a claim to get relief on their investment interest and savings. Tick the appropriate box while using form R40 to get yourself a copy of form 575.
Note: You can also contact HM Revenue and Customs to request the form in another format, such as in Braille.
How Do You get Registered as Blind?
Getting registered as severely sight impaired or sight impaired means visiting an eye specialist. As a rule, it will be a consultant ophthalmologist.
The eye specialist will conduct an eye test and complete a Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI). This is a BP1 form in Scotland.
Driver Licence with Monocular Vision
The UK driving laws allow you to drive a car or a motorcycle even if you only have one eye or you have sight loss in one eye. This condition is also known as having ‘monocular vision’.
The DVLA must be satisfied that you have enough sight in your other eye (which includes a normal field of vision).
Do Blind People have to Pay for TV Licence?
People with sight loss do not ‘automatically’ qualify for a free TV licence. But, anyone registered blind (or severely sight impaired) can get a 50% reduction on the cost. The reduction is also known as a blind concession.
Being registered as partially sighted (sight impaired) does not entitle you to claim the discount. But, anyone aged 75 or older can get to a free TV Licence, even if they do not have sight loss.
Note: You need a TV license to use BBC iPlayer for watching programmes on demand since the 1st of September 2016. This applies to a computer, smartphone, or a tablet, and even if you do not watch anything live.