Petition to make the income taxing and child benefits system fairer.

The current tax system is based upon individual incomes as opposed to total household income which is creating a huge imbalance in tax paid and the ability to utilise benefits such as child income and free child care. 

Example:

Two individuals each earning £30k per annum. After tax/NI income per calendar month: £2,005 each, total household income £4,010. Also entitled to 30 hrs free child care from 3 yrs and child benefit (approx £22 per wk for first child, £15 per week for children thereafter)

One individual earning £60k per annum. After tax/NI income per calendar month: £3,625, total household income £3,625. Entitled to 15 hours free child care from 3 yrs, no child benefit due to it being taxed resulting in £0.

Over a total year this is a total household income discrepancy of £4,620 due to an imbalanced taxing system. This is before taking child benefit into consideration and additional free hours of child care too. 

If we are to be "all in this together" then we really should be. If this imbalance continues there will be less and less motivation for people to push themselves to get higher income jobs, also couples in higher income households will be forced into a position whereby the second person cannot return to work whilst they have young children as they physically cannot afford to.

Alongside the system being based on total household income it would be excellent if the requirements for child benefit and childcare hours etc. were reviewed in line with this based on the prior levels for individual incomes to make it more accessible for households of similar total incomes. 

This petition in no means is to reduce child benefits for households, simply to put households earning similar salaries on an overall even level by reviewing the income tax requirements and child benefit requirements.