{"id":527380,"date":"2026-04-12T19:59:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T19:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/527380\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T19:59:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T19:59:08","slug":"scottish-election-2026-leaders-debate-clashes-over-energy-immigration-nhs-and-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/527380\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish election 2026: Leaders debate clashes over energy, immigration, NHS and independence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BBCDo Scots earning over \u00a333,000 pay more tax than in other parts of UK?published at 20:20 BST<\/p>\n

20:20 BST<\/p>\n

BBC Scotland: Phil Sim<\/p>\n

Anas Sarwar says that “right now people in Scotland, if they earn \u00a333,000 or more, pay more tax than they would in other parts of the UK\u201d.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s correct – the exact figure is \u00a333,500 – but it needs context. <\/p>\n

Since 2018, the Scottish government has operated what it terms a more “progressive” income tax system, which taxes lower earners a little less, and higher earners quite a bit more.<\/p>\n

On top of this, the SNP has long pledged that a majority of Scots will pay less income tax than they would if they lived elsewhere in the UK.<\/p>\n

This hasn’t always been delivered, external<\/a> in practice because it is based on uncertain future forecasts, but this year the Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates 55% of Scots should end up paying less tax.<\/p>\n

However the saving for lower earners is at most \u00a340 a year, while rates are much steeper for higher earners.<\/p>\n

Someone earning \u00a350,000 in Scotland will pay almost \u00a31,500 more in income tax than if they lived in England – with Scottish ministers arguing this is in return for better-funded public services.<\/p>\n

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