Living off the interest

Living off the interest

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Original Poster:

5,433 posts

187 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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Can I ask a question to any accountants out there - how much interest per year would you expect to generate from a lump sum of £1,000,000 and how much would that interest be taxed?


TIA

Eric Mc

122,685 posts

271 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
quotequote all
I'm no interest expert but at a rate of 3% per annum your gross income would be around £30,000. The bank or building society would deduct 20% tax on that so you would receive £24,000 into your hand.
However, on the assumption that you have no other income, the £6,000 tax deducted would be excessive as no account of your annual personal tax allowance would be incorporated into the calculation. Your true tax liability on income of £30,000 would be closer to £4,700 so you would need to apply for a tax refund of £1,300 after the end of the tax year - more than likely by filling in a Self Assessment tax return.

If you received £50,000 interest the bank would STILL deduct tax automatically at 20% leaving you with £40,000 into your hand. However, an income of £50,000 puts part of your income into the 40% Higher Rate tax band.
Therefore, the true tax liability on £50,000 would actually be £9,930.
This means that you would have suffered £70 too much and would be entitled to a tax refund of £70.

These are just rough examples.

The good news is that there is never any National Insurance due on interest.


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Original Poster:

5,433 posts

187 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
quotequote all
Many thanks Eric - very informative.

ringram

14,700 posts

254 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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Also doesnt take into consideration the erosion of your principle over time due to inflation. You will barely net anything in real terms at those interest rates!

mccrackenj

2,043 posts

232 months

Thursday 4th February 2010
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ringram said:
Also doesnt take into consideration the erosion of your principle over time due to inflation. You will barely net anything in real terms at those interest rates!
But surely most people's principles get eroded over time anyway . .

jeff m

4,060 posts

264 months

Thursday 4th February 2010
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mccrackenj said:
ringram said:
Also doesnt take into consideration the erosion of your principle over time due to inflation. You will barely net anything in real terms at those interest rates!
But surely most people's principles get eroded over time anyway . .
Mine have....I'm a real barsteward now.

Value of principal can be protected though.