Allowances

So, I have what is probably a dumb question, but I have been reading everything I can on the HMRC website about taxes and allowances. Are there any allowances for teachers or for single parents? I know there's the Child Benefit, but I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to qualify for that on a Tier 2 work permit. My understanding is that the Child Benefit is a public and you can't get public funds if you have the "no recourse to public funds" stamped on your visa. It says that I should still be able to get the standard allowance, but I wasn't sure if there were other allowances out there.

buebug, hi, are you a US Citizen? If so, have you ever worked in Canada? If you have a reciprocal Social Agreement between the UK and Canada might allow you to claim Child Benefit, notwithstanding the No Recourse to Public Funds restriction on your visa.

Whilst you mention the problem with Child Benefit, you could well have the same problem with Tax Credits.

Are there any allowances for teachers or for single parents?

Certainly nothing for teachers, apart from something in the Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and the US. How long are you going to be teaching in the UK?

Single parents? No, nothing, an allowance called Additional Person Allowance was abolished a few years ago. Tax Credits are the way that money is now handed out, but you are probably excluded.

John is correct on the benefits side of things.

From a tax perspective you qualify for the standard personal tax allowance (exemption) unless you are planning on claiming th remittance basis or you are non-UK resident.

If you expect to report worldwide income on your UK return you will not be claiming the remittance basis so get to claim the personal tax allowance.