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ROCHESTER BLIND BOWLING GROUP

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Blind Person's Allowance

  Are you visually impaired - (registered blind with your local authority, in England & Wales, or partially sighted, in Scotland)? Are you paying tax at the full rate - or do you receive BPA - that is Blind Person's Allowance?

  If you pay income tax at any level and you are registered as visually impaired, then you are entitled to Tax relief known as Blind Person's Allowance.

  Even more important - if you have been registered blind for several years, then you are elligible to claim BPA for up to 6 years, retrospectively. Information as to whether you are entitled and how you can claim your BPA can be found, below or on HM government website

  http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/blind-person-allow.htm

  How Blind Person's Allowance works

  Blind Person's Allowance is added to your tax-free Personal Allowance - so is an extra amount of income you can get each year without paying tax. If you are on a low income or even if you don't pay any tax you may be able to transfer your Blind Person's Allowance to your spouse or civil partner - see the section on transferring below.

   Level of Blind Person's Allowance

  Blind Person's Allowance for the tax year 2009-10 is £1,890 - there are no age or income restrictions.

  So if, for example, you're 58, registered blind with your local authority and have:

  an annual salary of £10,000
  a Personal Allowance of £6,475
  Blind Person’s Allowance of £1,890
  you only need to pay tax on £1,635 (£10,000 less the sum of £6,475
  and £1,890).

  If both you and your spouse or civil partner qualify for Blind Person's Allowance you can each get an allowance.

  Personal Allowance - learn more

  How you get Blind Person's Allowance

  If you think you may be able to claim Blind Person's Allowance contact us on our priority telephone number 0845 366 7887. Lines are open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, Saturday.

  To download this information to your computer, click here