Taxation: Pensioners

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 11 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1489-90W, on pensions (taxation), if he will estimate the number of pensioners paying income tax at the (a) higher and (b) basic rate in each year since 2001-02; and what percentage of (i) all pensioner taxpayers and (ii) all pensioners these figures represent in each year. (264595)

The information requested is in the following tables.

*Higher rate taxpayers*
	Number of pensioners paying HR income tax (Thousand)	Proportion of all pensioner taxpayers (Percentage)	Proportion of all pensioners (Percentage)
2001-02	210	4	2
2002-03	220	4	2
2003-04	230	5	2
2003-04	290	6	3
2004-05	300	6	3
2005-06	330	6	3
2006-07	370	6	3
2007-08	210	4	2

*Non-higher rate taxpayers*
	Number of pensioners paying non-HR income tax (Thousand)	Proportion of all pensioner taxpayers (Percentage)	Proportion of all pensioners (Percentage)
2001-02	4,570	96	42
2002-03	4,700	96	43
2003-04	4,470	95	41
2003-04	4,830	95	43
2004-05	4,790	94	43
2005-06	5,250	94	46
2006-07	5,420	94	47
2007-08	4,570	96	42
Notes: 1. Figures up to 2006-07 are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes in that year. 2. Figures for 2007-08 are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes in 2006-07 projected forward one year in line with pre-Budget 2008 report. 3. Figures for the number of pensioners paying income tax have been rounded to the nearest 10,000. 4. Pensioners have been defined as men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over. 5. All pensioners figures are mid-year population estimates supplied by the Office for National Statistics.

Volume 490: debated on Monday 23 March 2009